Epoxidation of Fatty Acid Esters with Aqueous Hydrogen Peroxide in the Presence of Molybdenum Oxide-Tributyltin Chloride on Charcoal Catalyst

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.59.3941

The epoxidation of fatty acid esters was carried out with a 30percent aqueous hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a molybdenum oxide-tributyltin chloride on a charcoal catalyst in 2-propanol at 50 degC.Such inner olefins as ethyl erucate and ethyl oleate gave good yields of 77 and 76percent, respectively.Ethyl elaidate, a trans-form of ethyl oleate, was less reactive (40percent yield).Several vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil, olive oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, and linseed oil were oxidized with the oxirane oxygen contents of 5.3 to 3.5percent.