Reaction-Controlled Phase-Transfer Catalysis for Propylene Epoxidation to Propylene Oxide
Xi Zuwei,*
Zhou Ning,
Sun Yu,
Li Kunlan
The epoxidation of olefins with
H2O2 was performed with a tungsten-containing
catalyst. This insoluble catalyst forms soluble active species by the
action of H2O2, and when the
H2O2 is used up, the catalyst precipitates for
easy recycling. Thus, the advantages of both homogeneous and
heterogeneous catalysts are combined in one system through
reaction-controlled phase transfer of the catalyst. When coupled with
the 2-ethylanthraquinone/2-ethylanthrahydroquinone redox process for
H2O2 production, O2 can be used for
the epoxidation of propylene to propylene oxide with 85% yield based
on 2-ethylanthrahydroquinone without any co-products. This approach
avoids the problematic co-products normally associated with the
industrial production of propylene oxide.
Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, People's Republic of China.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
huangw{at}dicp.ac.cn
