SELECTIVE EPOXIDATION OF MONOTERPENES WITH METHYLTRIOXORHENIUM AND H2O2

In the presence of pyridine as a co-catalyst, CH3ReO3 catalyses the ep oxidation of terpenes such as alpha-pinene with H2O2 with minimal rear rangement of the epoxide. Pyridine is also critical to suppress isomer isation of the olefin substrate (in case of nerol, geraniol). The reac tion can be directed towards selective single or double epoxidation, o r in one step towards the rearranged product (e.g. from linalool to th e ring-closure product linalool oxide). (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.