MANGANESE(III) ACETATE DIHYDRATE CATALYZED AEROBIC EPOXIDATION OF UNFUNCTIONALIZED OLEFINS IN FLUOROUS SOLVENTS

Manganese(III) acetate dihydrate is used as a catalyst for the epoxida tion of various olefins with molecular oxygen/pivalaldehyde as an oxid ant in perfluoro-2-butyltetrahydrofuran. Various types of olefins, inc luding substituted styrenes, stilbenes and cyclic and acyclic alkenes were epoxidized in excellent yields at 25 degrees C. The reaction is s tereodependent. Regioselectivity is observed on epoxidation of limonen e. Mono-and disubstituted olefins show interesting dichotomy in their reactivity in fluorous solvents such as perfluoro-2-butyltetrahydrofur an and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Lt d. All rights reserved.