Facile dihydroxylation of styrene using clay based catalysts

Dihydroxylation of styrene to I-phenyl-l,2-dihydroxyethane is studied using iodosyl benzene as an oxidant and various modified bentonite clays (I M-H- clay; proton exchange; Fe-exchanged clay; and Mn(III)-salen-exchanged clay) as catalyst. Catalytic activity was found to be higher for Fe-exchanged cl ay for intermediate epoxide formation. Studies clearly show that free Fe(II I) species present in the interlayer space are responsible for its reactivi ty. The intermediate epoxide is converted to 1-phenyl-1,2-dihydroxy-ethane by Bronsted acidity of the clay and the water present in the reaction media . (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.