Epoxidation of mono- and polycyclic unsaturated hydrocarbons with organic and inorganic oxidizing agents

Abstract

The literature materials available in recent years, as well as the results of the authors research on liquid-phase epoxidation of macro– and polycyclic bridged unsaturated hydrocarbons with the participation of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic systems and various oxidants–peroxacids, organic hydroperoxides, hydrogen peroxide and air oxygen have been summarized and analyzed. The activity and efficiency of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts are considered. It was revealed that homogeneous catalysts, as well as peroxoacids as oxidants, despite their high activity, show low productivity, which is due to a change in their ligand environment. The use of peroxoacids as reagents for epoxidation requires specific approaches in the technological implementation of the process. More promising in this direction are the studies on the epoxidation of polycyclic unsaturated hydrocarbons with the participation of heterogeneous catalysts and an environmentally friendly oxidizer - hydrogen peroxide. The preparation on the basis of nanostructured and other types of carbon and oxide materials, immobilized catalytic systems have been studied to much lesser extent. It can be assumed that this direction will be developed in the future.