Macromolecular organometallic catalysis: I. Epoxidation. A comparative kinetic study of tungstate, molybdate, and vanadate ions as catalysts for the epoxidation of maleic acid at pH 5

Abstract

As a prelude to an examination of the concept of macromolecular organometallic catalysis, a comparative kinetic study was made of the catalytic activity of tungstate, molybdate, and vanadate ions at pH 5 in order to select the preferred catalyst for the conversion of maleic acid to cis-epoxysuccinic acid using hydrogen peroxide. A facile method for the analysis of the degree of epoxidation achieved was theoretically deduced, confirmed experimentally, and used to establish the reaction kinetics under varying conditions of pH, catalyst concentration, and temperature. The tungsten-containing catalyst is superior to the others examined at pH 5 and the rate equation and activation energy for this system were determined.