An Improved Iron‐Catalyzed Epoxidation of Aromatic and Aliphatic Olefins with Hydrogen Peroxide as Oxidant

Abstract

Abstract A convenient and practical method for the iron‐catalyzed epoxidation of aromatic and aliphatic olefins is described. The iron catalyst system is generated in situ from iron trichloride hexahydrate, pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid (H 2 pydic), and benzylamines. By variation of the benzylamine ligand, a variety of aliphatic and aromatic olefins were oxidized in high yield (up to 96 %) and good‐to‐excellent selectivity in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)