Epoxidation of styrene by TBHP to styrene oxide using barium oxide as a highly active/selective and reusable solid catalyst

Abstract

Styrene can be oxidised by TBHP to styrene oxide with high selectivity/yield using barium oxide (with or without gallium oxide support) as a simple, inexpensive and reusable solid catalyst; compared to the other alkaline and rare earth metal oxides, barium oxide showed a much better performance in the styrene epoxidation.