Constructing Highly Efficient Catalysts for the 1‐Butene Epoxidation

Abstract

Epoxides are high‐valued intermediates in the production of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, and polymers. Given the growing demand for epoxides, it is imperative to develop more environmentally friendly and sustainable routes instead of the chlorohydrin process. Notably, the direct utilization of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for the epoxidation reaction presents significant advantages from both environmental and economic perspectives. The review provides insights into both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts employed in the 1‐butene epoxidation using the green oxidant H2O2. Among the diverse range of catalysts, titanosilicate‐1 (TS‐1) has garnered extensive attention due to its exceptional selectivity and high oxygen atom utilization. The aim of this review is to illustrate various strategies for TS‐1 catalysts preparation that can lead to more versatile, higher‐performance, and greener epoxidation processes. Additionally, various potential approaches to enhance the catalyst performance of TS‐1 are highlighted, including (i) constructing specific coordination modes of Ti sites, (ii) regulating the microenvironment around Ti sites, and (iii) improving the accessibility of Ti sites. Furthermore, advances in molding TS‐1 catalysts are also introduced from the perspective of the industrialization. Finally, future research directions are discussed with emphasis on the application scope of TS‐1 to gain deeper insights into epoxidation process.