A new amphiphilic dipyridinium peroxo-phoshotungstate catalyst was developed as a selective and recyclable catalyst for the biphasic epoxidation of oils and fatty acids with hydrogen peroxide. The oxidation of vegetable oils is of prime importance for the production of lubricants, plasticizers, polymer stabilizers and other olefinic compounds. Vegetable oils also represent the largest share of renewable raw materials currently in use by the chemical industry. Based on the oxidizing activity of peroxophosphotungstates known as Venturello’s catalyst, we designed a lipophilic phase transfer agent that renders the active complex insoluble in the reaction media, without having to support it on a matrix. This results in a catalyst that bridges the gap between the activity of homogeneous catalysts and the recyclability of heterogeneous systems. The catalyst is effective at room temperature without the need of any additional solvents, which simplifies the purification of the product, it’s more active than other reported supported oxidation catalysts, and it may be recycled by simple filtration.

Amphiphilic dipyridinium-phosphotungstate complex as an active, selective and recyclable catalyst for the epoxidation of oils and fatty acids with hydrogen peroxide

256th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.