Olefin, selective epoxidation, vanadium

Alkyl hydroperoxides, including ethyl hydroperoxide, cuminyl hydroperoxide, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide, are not used by V-BrPO to catalyze bromination reactions [29], These alkyl hydroperoxides have the thermodynamic driving force to oxidize bromide however, they are kinetically slow. Several examples of vanadium(V) alkyl peroxide complexes have been well characterized [63], including [V(v)0(OOR)(oxo-2-oxidophenyl) salicylidenaminato] (R = i-Bu, CMe2Ph), which has been used in the selective oxidation of olefins to epoxides. The synthesis of these compounds seems to require elevated temperatures, and their oxidation under catalytic conditions has not been reported. We have found that alkyl hydroperoxides do not coordinate to vanadate in aqueous solution at neutral pH, conditions under which dihydrogen peroxide readily coordinates to vanadate and vanadium( V) complexes (de la Rosa and Butler, unpublished observations). Thus, the lack of bromoperoxidase reactivity with the alkyl hydroperoxides may arise from slow binding of the alkyl hydroperoxides to V-BrPO. 

Selective epoxidation of olefins by vanadium(V) alkyl peroxo complexes has also been reported (76). These complexes are very effective stereo-selective reagents for the transformation of olefins into epoxides. The mechanism consists of binding of the olefin to the metal to displace one of the peroxo-oxygen atoms, nucleophilic attack of the bound oxygen atom on the coordinated electron-deficient olefin, dissociation of the epoxide, and reaction of the remaining vanadium intermediate with... 

H. Mimoun, M. Mignard, P. Brechot, L. Saussine, Selective epoxidation of olefins by oxo[N-(2-oxidophenyl)salicylidenaminato]vanadium(V) alkylperoxides. On the mechanism of the Halcon epoxidation process, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108 (1986) 3711. 

The tert-huty hydroperoxide is then mixed with a catalyst solution to react with propylene. Some TBHP decomposes to TBA during this process step. The catalyst is typically an organometaHic that is soluble in the reaction mixture. The metal can be tungsten, vanadium, or molybdenum. Molybdenum complexes with naphthenates or carboxylates provide the best combination of selectivity and reactivity. Catalyst concentrations of 200—500 ppm in a solution of 55% TBHP and 45% TBA are typically used when water content is less than 0.5 wt %. The homogeneous metal catalyst must be removed from solution for disposal or recycle (137,157). Although heterogeneous catalysts can be employed, elution of some of the metal, particularly molybdenum, from the support surface occurs (158). References 159 and 160 discuss possible mechanisms for the catalytic epoxidation of olefins by hydroperoxides. 

When heated in the presence of a carboxyHc acid, cinnamyl alcohol is converted to the corresponding ester. Oxidation to cinnamaldehyde is readily accompHshed under Oppenauer conditions with furfural as a hydrogen acceptor in the presence of aluminum isopropoxide (44). Cinnamic acid is produced directly with strong oxidants such as chromic acid and nickel peroxide. The use of t-butyl hydroperoxide with vanadium pentoxide catalysis offers a selective method for epoxidation of the olefinic double bond of cinnamyl alcohol (45). 

Oxovanadium(V) and oxomolybdenum(VI) were incorporated into crosslinked polystyrene resins functionalized with iminodiacetic acid or diethylenetriamine derivatives 921 The polymer complexes were used as catalysts in the oxidation of olefins with f-butylhydroperoxide. Vanadium(V) complexes promote the epoxidation of allylic alcohols in a highly regioselective manner, e.g., 2,3-epoxide was obtained in 98 % selectivity from e-geraniol at 80 °C. The catalytic activity of the vanadium(V) complexes is generally higher than that of the molybdenium(VI) complexes in the oxidation of allylic alcohols, whereas an opposed trend holds for the epoxidation of cyclohexene. 

In order to observe rapid rates and high epoxide selectivity, the conditions under which reaction (226) is run must be within fairly restricted limits. In most instances, an excess of olefin over hydroperoxide will result in more efficient use of hydroperoxide and thus in greater selectivity [370]. In general, the lower the temperature, the less radical decomposition of hydroperoxide and the higher the selectivity. The maximum temperature at which each metal complex may be run without a large amount of radical decomposition varies with the metal center. For molybdenum catalysts epoxide selectivities of 98% can be achieved at 100 °C but fall to 75-80% at 130°C. For vanadium complexes the maximum temperature for selective operation is 80 °C and for chromium it is below 60 [370]. 

---