Efficient aerobic epoxidation of olefins accelerated by a bifunctional Co2Al layered double hydroxide

Abstract

Co2Al layered double hydroxide (Co2Al–LDH) could efficiently catalyze the aerobic epoxidation of olefin in the presence of isobutaldehyde (IBA). Various alkenes could transformed to its corresponding epoxide under the catalytic system and the catalyst showed exceptional reusability under the selected reaction conditions. The relationship between catalytic performance and Co2Al–LDH has been studied in the present research. The surface basicity of hydrotalcite was found to be beneficial to the reaction. Based on the controlled results and kinetic study, it was found that basicity not only accelerate the reaction rate, but also benefit the selectivity of epoxide. A possible mechanism of the reaction was proposed based on the controlled results and analysis, which was assumed that the epoxides were generated through two paths involving acylperoxy radical and peroxyacid.