A Highly Active Protonated Tetranuclear Peroxotungstate for Oxidation with Hydrogen Peroxide

Abstract

Acid assists: The reaction of [{WO(O2)2}2(μ-O)]2− with 0.5 equivalents of HNO3 gave a tetranuclear peroxotungstate (1; see picture) that has a dramatically enhanced activity for the epoxidation of cyclooctene with H2O2 compared to various peroxotungstates. The 1-catalyzed system was applicable to the selective oxidation of various kinds of substrates with 1.0–1.5 equivalents of H2O2.