Epoxidation of methyl oleate with molecular oxygen in the presence of aldehydes |
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Authors: | Angela Köckritz Michael Blumenstein Andreas Martin |
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Affiliation: | 1. Leibniz‐Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universit?t Rostock, Au?enstelle Berlin, Berlin, Germany;2. Hobum Oleochemicals GmbH, Hamburg, Germany |
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Abstract: | The epoxidation of methyl oleate with molecular oxygen in the presence of aldehydes was investigated and optimized. Epoxide yields up to 99% were observed in organic solvents. The preponderant radical reaction was started by a single organic radical chain initiator, without using a metal catalyst. The radical character of the reaction was revealed by the concurrent occurrence of trans and cis epoxides and by the prevention of epoxide formation through a radical scavenger. Both branched aldehydes and the linear aldehyde n‐hexanal were well suited in organic solvents. The linear n‐hexanal enabled also a superior epoxide yield of 78% in the green solvent water. The oxidation of high‐oleic sunflower oil under the same conditions with n‐hexanal yielded 39% epoxide groups. |
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Keywords: | Co‐oxidant Epoxidation Methyl oleate Molecular oxygen Non‐catalytic |
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