Benzaldehyde—olefin co-oxidation in benzene solution

The autoxidation of benzaldehyde in the presence of olefins such as cyclohexene and a-methylstyrene with or without a catalyst enables an epoxide to be isolated as the principal olefinic product. This process has 

These data, coupled with the fact that the epoxide selectivity is not greatly influenced by the presence of cobalt, appear to indicate that the reactivity of the benzoylperoxy radical with regard to double bonds is very high. In the case of a-methylstyrene, which by itself in the presence of oxygen forms a polyperoxide [58], [k3 (30°C) = 7 lmole-1 s-1 (polyperoxidation [59])] mainly epoxide and acetophenone are produced. 

It should be mentioned that the rapidity of the intermediate radical 

Autooxidation of benzaldehyde in solution with olefins [C6H5CHO]o = 3.57 mole l 1 temperature, 20°C. 

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