Showing papers on "Epoxide published in 2003"
TL;DR: The effectiveness of this catalyst is evidenced by ≥99% selectivity to epoxide, ≥ 99% efficiency of H2O2 utilization, high stereospecificity, and easy recovery of the catalyst from the homogeneous reaction mixture.
Abstract: Epoxides are an important class of industrial chemicals that have been used as chemical intermediates. Catalytic epoxidation of olefins affords an interesting production technology. We found a widely usable green route to the production of epoxides: A silicotungstate compound, [gamma-SiW10O34(H2O)2]4-, is synthesized by protonation of a divacant, lacunary, Keggin-type polyoxometalate of [gamma-SiW10O36]8- and exhibits high catalytic performance for the epoxidation of various olefins, including propylene, with a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) oxidant at 305 kelvin. The effectiveness of this catalyst is evidenced by >/=99% selectivity to epoxide, >/=99% efficiency of H2O2 utilization, high stereospecificity, and easy recovery of the catalyst from the homogeneous reaction mixture.
543 citations
TL;DR: Phenol can efficiently catalyze the reactions of terminal epoxides with carbon dioxide in the presence of catalytic amounts of various organic bases such as 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), pyridine, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, and triethylamine to give the corresponding five-membered cyclic carbonate in high yields as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Phenol can efficiently catalyze the reactions of terminal epoxides with carbon dioxide in the presence of catalytic amounts of various organic bases such as 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), pyridine, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, and triethylamine to give the corresponding five-membered cyclic carbonate in high yields (initial pressure 3.57 MPa; reaction temperature 120 °C). p-Methoxyphenol with DMAP is the best combination to give the cyclic carbonate in the highest yield.
164 citations
TL;DR: Tributylphosphine was found to be an effective promoting reagent for the ring-opening reaction of various epoxides and aziridines with nucleophile to produce corresponding anti-bifunctional products in moderate to excellent yields in water.
Abstract: Tributylphosphine was found to be an effective promoting reagent for the ring-opening reaction of various epoxides and aziridines with nucleophile to produce corresponding anti-bifunctional products in moderate to excellent yields in water.
160 citations
TL;DR: Up to 60% of the reducing equivalents provided via [CpRh(bpy)(H(2)O)](2+) could be channeled into epoxide rather than hydrogen peroxide formation, allowing selective synthesis with high yields.
Abstract: Catalysis for chemical synthesis by cell-free monooxygenases necessitates an efficient and robust in situ regeneration system to supply the enzyme with reducing equivalents We report on a novel approach to directly regenerate flavin-dependent monooxygenases The organometallic complex [CpRh(bpy)(H(2)O)](2+) catalyzes the transhydrogenation reaction between formate and isoalloxazine-based cofactors such as FAD and FMN Coupling this FADH(2) regeneration reaction to the FADH(2)-dependent styrene monooxygenase (StyA) resulted in a chemoenzymatic epoxidation reaction where the organometallic compound substitutes for the native reductase (StyB), the nicotinamide coenzyme (NAD), and an artificial NADH regeneration system such as formate dehydrogenase Various styrene derivatives were converted into the essentially optically pure (S)-epoxides (ee > 98%) In addition, StyA was shown to be capable of performing sulfoxidation reactions The productivity of the chemoenzymatic epoxidation reaction using 65 microM StyA reached up to 64 mM/h, corresponding to approximately 70% of a comparable fully enzymatic reaction using StyB, NADH, and formate dehydrogenase for regeneration The coupling efficiency of the nonenzymatic regeneration reaction to enzymatic epoxidation was examined in detail, leading to an optimized reaction setup with minimized quenching of the electron supply for the epoxidation reaction Thus, up to 60% of the reducing equivalents provided via [CpRh(bpy)(H(2)O)](2+) could be channeled into epoxide rather than hydrogen peroxide formation, allowing selective synthesis with high yields
156 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of various reaction variables on the activity and selectivity performance on a two-step synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and glycol from propylene oxide, carbon dioxide and methanol using a heterogeneous Mg containing smectite catalyst was reported.
154 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors showed that aromatic amines exhibit excellent regioselectivity for preferential nucleophilic attack at the sterically less hindered position during the reaction with unsymmetrical epoxides.
152 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the catalytic activity of imidazolium zinc tetrahalide was found to be in the order of [ZnBr 4 ] 2− >[ZnCl 4 ] 1− ⪢[Zbr 2 Cl 2 ] 2 − ⫢ [Zbr 4 ] 4−. The turnover frequencies increased with increasing temperature, but remained almost unchanged with the increase of pressure.
143 citations
TL;DR: Isotope labeling studies performed with H218O and 18O2 in the olefin epoxidation and alkane hydroxylation reactions demonstrated that oxygen atoms in oxygenated products derived from the oxoiron(IV) porphyrin complex were identified.
Abstract: We report in this study that an oxoiron(IV) porphyrin complex bearing electron-deficient porphyrin ligand, (TPFPP)FeIV=O (TPFPP = meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphinato dianion), shows reactivities similar to those found in oxoiron(IV) porphyrin pi-cation radicals. In the epoxidation of olefins by the (TPFPP)FeIV=O complex, epoxides were yielded as major products; cyclohexene oxide was the sole product formed in the epoxidation of cyclohexene, and stilbenes were stereospecifically oxidized to the corresponding epoxide products. More striking results were obtained in alkane hydroxylation reactions; the hydroxylation of adamantane afforded a high degree of selectivity for tertiary C-H bonds over secondary C-H bonds, and the hydroxylation of cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane yielded a tertiary alcohol product with >99% retention of stereochemistry. The latter result demonstrates that an oxoiron(IV) porphyrin complex hydroxylates alkanes with a high stereospecificity. Isotope labeling studies performed with H218O and 18O2 in the olefin epoxidation and alkane hydroxylation reactions demonstrated that oxygen atoms in oxygenated products derived from the oxoiron(IV) porphyrin complex.
138 citations
TL;DR: An asymmetric synthesis of the quinone epoxide dimer (+)-torreyanic acid has been accomplished employing [4 + 2] dimerization of diastereomeric 2H-pyran monomers which establishes the biosynthetic relationship between these two natural products.
Abstract: An asymmetric synthesis of the quinone epoxide dimer (+)-torreyanic acid (48) has been accomplished employing [4 + 2] dimerization of diastereomeric 2H-pyran monomers. Synthesis of the related monomeric natural product (+)-ambuic acid (2) has also been achieved which establishes the biosynthetic relationship between these two natural products. A tartrate-mediated nucleophilic epoxidation involving hydroxyl group direction facilitated the asymmetric synthesis of a key chiral quinone monoepoxide intermediate. Thermolysis experiments have also been conducted on a model dimer based on the torreyanic acid core structure and facile retro Diels-Alder reaction processes and equilibration of diastereomeric 2H-pyrans have been observed. Theoretical calculations of Diels-Alder transition states have been performed to evaluate alternative transition states for Diels-Alder dimerization of 2H-pyran quinone epoxide monomers and provide insight into the stereocontrol elements for these reactions.
133 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a novel catalytic application of titanosilicate molecular sieves (TS-1 and TiMCM-41), in the synthesis of polycarbonate precursors like cyclic carbonates and dimethyl and diphenyl carbonates, avoiding toxic chemicals like phosgene or CO, is reported.
Abstract: A novel catalytic application of titanosilicate molecular sieves (TS-1 and TiMCM-41), in the synthesis of polycarbonate precursors like cyclic carbonates and dimethyl and diphenyl carbonates, avoiding toxic chemicals like phosgene or CO, is reported. Cyclic carbonates were prepared, over TS-1 and TiMCM-41, in high yields, by cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides, like epichlorohydrin, propylene oxide and styrene oxide, at low temperatures and pressures. Further, transesterification of the cyclic carbonates with methanol and phenol, over TiMCM-41, yielded other polycarbonate precursors like dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and diphenyl carbonate (DPC). The cyclic carbonates could also be synthesized from the olefins in the same reactor by reacting the olefins, in the presence of TiMCM-41, with a mixture of an epoxidizing agent (like H2O2 or tert-butyl hydroperoxide) and CO2.
132 citations
TL;DR: Epoxide-containing polyesters were enzymatically synthesized via two routes using unsaturated fatty acids as starting substrate and the high epoxidized ratio was achieved, yielding transparent polymeric films with high gloss surface.
TL;DR: Systematic screening revealed that an epoxide functionality possesses the special combination of stability and reactivity which renders it stable toward proteins in solution but reactive on the protein surface outside the active site (proximity-induced reactivity).
Abstract: We present the development of new affinity probes for protein labeling based on an epoxide reactive group. Systematic screening revealed that an epoxide functionality possesses the special combination of stability and reactivity which renders it stable toward proteins in solution but reactive on the protein surface outside the active site (proximity-induced reactivity). Highly efficient and selective labeling of purified HCA II (human carbonic anhydrase II) was achieved. For instance, 2 equiv of epoxide probe 9 was sufficient for nearly quantitative labeling of HCA II (>90% yield, 20 h reaction time). MS analysis of the labeled protein revealed that 1 equiv of the probe was attached and that labeling occurred at a single residue (His 64) outside the active site. Importantly, epoxide probe 9 selectively labeled HCA II both in simple protein mixtures and in cellular extracts. In addition to the chemical insight and its relevance to many epoxide-containing natural products, this study generated a promising lead in the development of new affinity probes for protein labeling.
TL;DR: These zinc complexes were shown to be catalytically active for the coupling of carbon dioxide and epoxides to provide high molecular weight polycarbonates and cyclic carbonates, with the order of reactivity being Cl > or = Br > I, and 2,6-di-methoxypyridine > 3-trifluoromethylpyridine.
Abstract: The reactions of zinc halides with 2,6-di-methoxypyridine or 3-trifluoromethylpyridine in dichloromethane have led to the formation of quite different complexes. Specifically, reactions involving pyridine containing electron donating methoxy substitutents have provided salts of the type [Zn(2,6-dimethoxypyridine)4][Zn2X6], as revealed by elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography. On the other hand, simple bis-pyridine adducts of zinc halides were isolated from the reactions involving the pyridine ligand with electron withdrawing substituents and characterized by X-ray crystallography, for example, Zn(3-trifluoromethylpyridine)2Br2. These zinc complexes were shown to be catalytically active for the coupling of carbon dioxide and epoxides to provide high molecular weight polycarbonates and cyclic carbonates, with the order of reactivity being Cl > or = Br > I, and 2,6-di-methoxypyridine > 3-trifluoromethylpyridine. Polycarbonate production from carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide was shown to be first-order in both metal precursor complex and cyclohexene oxide, as monitored by in situ infrared spectroscopy at 80 degrees C and 55 bar pressure. For reactions carried out in CO2 swollen epoxide solutions in the absence of added quantities of pyridine, the copolymer produced contained significant polyether linkages. Alternatively, reactions performed in the presence of excess pyridine or in hydrocarbon solvent, although slower in rate, afforded completely alternating copolymers. For comparative purposes, zinc chloride was a very effective homopolymerization catalyst for polyethers. Additionally, zinc chloride afforded copolymers with 60% carbonate linkages in the presence of high carbon dioxide pressures. In the case of cyclohexene oxide, the copolymer back-biting reaction led exclusively to the production of the trans cyclic carbonate as shown by infrared spectroscopy in v(C=O) region and X-ray crystallography. The unique feature of these catalyst systems is their simplicity.
TL;DR: Results suggest that an active site-directed opening of position-specific transient epoxide intermediates may contribute to the chemical mechanism and the high degree of regiospecificity observed for aromatic hydroxylation in this evolutionarily specialized diiron enzyme.
Abstract: The present studies address the mechanism of aromatic hydroxylation used by the natural and G103L isoforms of the diiron enzyme toluene 4-monooxygenase. These isoforms have comparable catalytic parameters but distinct regiospecificities for toluene hydroxylation. Hydroxylation of ring-deuterated p-xylene by the natural isoform revealed a substantial inverse isotope effect of 0.735, indicating a change in hybridization from sp2 to sp3 for hydroxylation at a carbon atom bearing the deuteron. During the hydroxylation of 4-2H1- and 3,5-2H2-toluene, similar magnitudes of intramolecular isotope effects and patterns of deuterium retention were observed from both isoforms studied, indicating that the active-site mutation affected substrate orientation but did not influence the mechanism of hydroxylation. The results with deuterated toluenes show inverse intramolecular isotope effects for hydroxylation at the position of deuteration, normal secondary isotope effects for hydroxylation adjacent to the position of deuteration, near-quantitative deuterium retention in m-cresol obtained from 4-2H1-toluene, and partial loss of deuterium from all phenolic products obtained from 3,5-2H2-toluene. This combination of results suggests that an active site-directed opening of position-specific transient epoxide intermediates may contribute to the chemical mechanism and the high degree of regiospecificity observed for aromatic hydroxylation in this evolutionarily specialized diiron enzyme.
TL;DR: A template is proposed to account for the marked enhancement of reactivity and selectivity, in which the allylic alcohol is ligated through metal-alcoholate bonding, and the H2O2 oxygen source is activated in the form of a peroxotungsten complex.
Abstract: Sandwich-type polyoxometalates (POMs), namely [WZnM2(ZnW9O34)2]q- [M = Mn(II), Ru(III), Fe(III), Pd(II), Pt(II), Zn(II); q = 10−12], are shown to catalyze selectively the epoxidation of chiral ally...
TL;DR: A reaction mechanism involving an electron transfer from the excited triplet state of Ru(II)TMP(CO) to hexachloroplatinate(IV) and subsequent formation of OH(-)-coordinated Ru(III) species, leading to an oxo-ruthenium complex as the key intermediate of the photochemical epoxidation, was postulated.
Abstract: Visible light irradiation of a reaction mixture of carbonyl-coordinated tetra(2,4,6-trimethyl)phenylporphyrinatoruthenium(II) (RuIITMP(CO)) as a photosensitizer, hexachloroplatinate(IV) as an electron acceptor, and an alkene in alkaline aqueous acetonitrile induces selective epoxidation of the alkene with high quantum yield (Φ = 0.6, selectivity = 94.4% for cyclohexene and Φ = 0.4, selectivity = 99.7% for norbornene) under degassed conditions. The oxygen atom of the epoxide was confirmed to come from a water molecule by an experiment with H218O. cis-Stilbene was converted into its epoxide, cis-stilbeneoxide, without forming trans-stilbeneoxide. trans-Stilbene, however, did not exhibit any reactivity. Under neutral conditions, an efficient buildup of the cation radical of RuIITMP(CO) was observed at the early stage of the photoreaction, while an addition of hydroxide ion caused a rapid reaction with the cation radical to promote the reaction with reversion to the starting RuIITMP(CO). A possible involvemen...
TL;DR: In this paper, the generation and addition reactions of metal bound radicals derived from normal and meso epoxides by electron transfer from titanocene(III) reagents are described, and the control of enanti-lectivity and diastereoselectivity of these transformations is investigated by variation of the ligands of the metal complex.
Abstract: The generation and addition reactions of metal bound radicals derived from normal and meso epoxides by electron transfer from titanocene(III) reagents is described. The control of enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity of these transformations is investigated by variation of the ligands of the metal complex. The reaction can lead to unprecedented and highly selective reactions, in which synthetically useful alcohols may be prepared. The synthesis presented also circumvents the use of toxic metals. Another advantage is that there is no loss of two functional groups as usually observed in reductive radical chain reactions.
TL;DR: In this article, the synthesis of epoxides using Dimethyldioxirane using trans-stilbene oxide was discussed, and the following products were synthesized.
Abstract: Synthesis of epoxides using dimethyldioxirane: trans-stilbene oxide
intermediate: Dimethyldioxirane
product: trans-Stilbene oxide
Keywords:
epoxide formation;
oxidation, miscellaneous;
oxidation, miscellaneous;
assay methods, for dimethyldioxirane;
dimethyldioxirane, explosion hazard;
dioxirane generator
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that 2,3-anhydrofuranose thioglycosides (1, 5) and glycosyl sulfoxides (2, 6) with the hydroxyl groups C-2 and C-3 are protected as an epoxide, and that subsequent nucleophilic opening of the epoxide moiety proceeds under basic conditions to give products with good to excellent regioselectivity.
Abstract: The ever-increasing discovery of biologically important events mediated by carbohydrates has generated great interest in the synthesis of oligosaccharides and the development of new methods for glycosidic bond formation. In this paper, we report that 2,3-anhydrofuranose thioglycosides (1, 5) and glycosyl sulfoxides (2, 6), in which the hydroxyl groups C-2 and C-3 are “protected” as an epoxide, glycosylate alcohols with an exceptionally high degree of stereocontrol. The predominant or exclusive product of reactions with this fundamentally new class of glycosylating agent is that in which the newly formed glycosidic bond is cis to the epoxide moiety. We further demonstrate that subsequent nucleophilic opening of the epoxide moiety proceeds under basic conditions to give products in high yield and with good to excellent regioselectivity. The major ring-opened products possess the arabino stereochemistry, and thus this methodology constitutes a new approach for the synthesis of arabinofuranosides. In the epox...
TL;DR: A series of amino alcohols has been prepared by a novel zinc-catalyzed nucleophilic opening of epoxide rings by amines as mentioned in this paper, which has been shown to be useful for protein synthesis.
TL;DR: In this paper, various niobium-containing meso- and macroporous materials were prepared and characterised by means of XRD and H 2 -TPR techniques, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and sorption measurements.
TL;DR: Calculations of ethene and propene epoxidation by H(2)O( 2) in the gas phase and in the presence of methanol and of two fluorinated alcohols show that the fluoro alcohol itself acts as a catalyst for the reaction by providing a template that stabilizes specifically the transition state (TS) of the reaction.
Abstract: Experimental observations show that direct olefin epoxidation by H2O2, which is extremely sluggish otherwise, occurs in fluorinated alcohol (RfOH) solutions under mild conditions requiring no additional catalysts. Theoretical calculations of ethene and propene epoxidation by H2O2 in the gas phase and in the presence of methanol and of two fluorinated alcohols, presented in this paper, show that the fluoro alcohol itself acts as a catalyst for the reaction by providing a template that stabilizes specifically the transition state (TS) of the reaction. Thus, much like an enzyme, the fluoro alcohol provides a complementary charge template that leads to the reduction of the barrier by 5−8 kcal mol-1. Additionally, the fluoro alcohol template keeps the departing OH and hydroxyalkenyl moieties in close proximity and, by polarizing them, facilitates the hydrogen migration from the latter to form water and the epoxide product. The reduced activation energy and structural confinement of the TS over the fluoro alcoh...
TL;DR: The reaction proceeds through novel endo-mode epoxide opening of an intramolecular boron chelate, which was suggested from both experimental and quantum mechanic studies.
TL;DR: The catalytic activity of [L(2)ZnX(2)] was found to decrease with increasing electronegativity of the halide ligands and the mechanistic pathways for the formation of active species and cyclic carbonates are discussed on the basis of results from structural and spectroscopic analyses.
Abstract: Coupling reactions of CO(2) and epoxide to produce cyclic carbonates were performed in the presence of a catalyst [L(2)ZnX(2)] (L=pyridine or substituted pyridine; X=Cl, Br, I), and the effects of pyridine and halide ligands on the catalytic activity were investigated. The catalysts with electron-donating substituents on pyridine ligands exhibit higher activity than those with unsubstituted pyridine ligands. On the other hand, the catalysts with electron-withdrawing substituents at the 2-position of the pyridine ligands show no activity; this demonstrates the importance of the basicity of the pyridine ligands. The catalytic activity of [L(2)ZnX(2)] was found to decrease with increasing electronegativity of the halide ligands. A series of highly active zinc complexes bridged by pyridinium alkoxy ions of the general formula [((mu-OCHRCH(2)L)ZnBr(2))(n)] (n=2 for R=CH(3); n=3 for R=H; L=pyridine or substituted pyridine) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The dinuclear zinc complexes obtained from propylene oxide adopt a square-planar geometry for the Zn(2)O(2) core with two bridging pyridinium propoxy ion ligands. Trinuclear zinc complexes prepared from ethylene oxide adopt a boat geometry for the Zn(3)O(3) core, in which three zinc and three oxygen atoms are arranged in an alternate fashion. These zinc complexes bridged by pyridinium alkoxy ions were also isolated from the coupling reactions of CO(2) and epoxides performed in the presence of [L(2)ZnBr(2)]. Rapid CO(2) insertion into the zincbond;oxygen bond of the zinc complexes bridged by pyridinium alkoxy ions leads to the formation of zinc carbonate species; these which yield cyclic carbonates and zinc complexes bridged by pyridinium alkoxy ions upon interaction with epoxides. The mechanistic pathways for the formation of active species and cyclic carbonates are discussed on the basis of results from structural and spectroscopic analyses.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that an electron-deficient iron porphyrin complex can catalyze the epoxidation of olefins by H2O2 under conditions of limiting substrate with high conversion efficiency in a solvent mixture of CH3OH and CH2Cl2.
Abstract: The catalytic epoxidation of cyclohexene by iron(III) porphyrin complexes and H2O2 has been investigated in alcohol solvents to understand factors affecting the catalyst activity in protic solvents. The yields of cyclohexene oxide and the FeIII/II reduction potentials of iron porphyrin complexes were significantly affected by the protic solvents, and there was a close correlation between the product yields and the reduction potentials of the iron porphyrin catalysts. The role of alcohol solvents was proposed to control the electronic nature of iron porphyrin complexes that determines the catalyst activity in the epoxidation of olefins by H2O2. We have also demonstrated that an electron-deficient iron porphyrin complex can catalyze the epoxidation of olefins by H2O2 under conditions of limiting substrate with high conversion efficiency in a solvent mixture of CH3OH and CH2Cl2.
TL;DR: Water, an environmentally friendly reaction medium, has been utilized for the reaction of IBX with various epoxides 1 and aziridines 2 as their beta-cyclodextrin complexes to afford for the first time alpha-hydroxyketones 3 and alpha-aminoketones 4, respectively.
Abstract: Water, an environmentally friendly reaction medium, has been utilized for the reaction of IBX with various epoxides 1 and aziridines 2 as their β-cyclodextrin complexes to afford for the first time α-hydroxyketones 3 and α-aminoketones 4, respectively.
TL;DR: In this article, a new catalysts with pore sizes of 37 and 65 A were synthesized by grafting titanium on a structured mesoporous SBA15 (SBA for Santa BArbara and 15 for hexagonal structure) by means of titanium tetrachloride in the gas phase.
TL;DR: The 2-mediated (S)-alpha-terpineol epoxidations proceeded to give terpineol oxides in high yields, and the stereoselectivities decreased from 2.5:1 to 1:1.2 with increasing steric bulkiness of the terpenes.
Abstract: A beta-cyclodextrin-modified ketoester 2 was prepared by covalent attachment of a reactive ketone moiety to beta-cyclodextrin. Treatment of 2 with Oxone as terminal oxidant would produce CD-substituted dioxirane, which can effect stereoselective alkene epoxidation. The 2-mediated (S)-alpha-terpineol epoxidations proceeded to give terpineol oxides in high yields, and the stereoselectivities (i.e., cis-/trans-epoxide ratio) decreased from 2.5:1 to 1:1.2 with increasing steric bulkiness of the terpenes. This steric-dependent stereoselectivity can be understood based on different binding geometries of the 2/terpene inclusion complexes according to the (1)H NMR titration and 2D ROESY experiments. Enantioselective epoxidation of styrenes has also been achieved with 2 as catalyst (20-50 mol %) in aqueous acetonitrile solution, and up to 40% ee was obtained in 4-chlorostyrene epoxidation at 0 degrees C. Similar enantioselectivities were also obtained for the 2-mediated epoxidation of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene (37% ee), 4-chlorostyrene (36% ee), and trans-stilbene (31% ee).
TL;DR: In this paper, a peroxygenase enzyme from oat (Avena sativa) seeds was used to find a replacement for the acid catalyst, and a method for immobilization of this enzyme using a hydrophobic membrane support was devised.
Abstract: Fatty epoxides are used as plasticizers and plastic stabilizers and are intermediates for the production of other chemical substances. The currently used industrial procedure for fatty epoxide synthesis requires a strong acid catalyst which can cause oxirane ring opening and side product formation. To find a replacement for the acid catalyst, we have been conducting research on a peroxygenase enzyme from oat (Avena sativa) seeds and have devised a method for immobilization of this enzyme using a hydrophobic membrane support. In this study, fatty acids and fatty methyl esters commonly encountered in commercial vegetable oils were tested as substrates for immobilized peroxygenase, and the epoxide products were characterized. The epoxidation time course of linoleic acid showed two distinct phases with nearly complete conversion to monoepoxide before diepoxide was produced. The diepoxide formed from linolenic acid was found to be 9,10-15,16-diepoxy-12-octadecenoic acid, and only a trace of triepoxide was obtained. Additionally it was discovered that acyclic alkenes with internal double bonds, a cyclic alkene, and an alkene with an aromatic substituent were substrates of peroxygenase. However, alkenes with terminal unsaturation were unreactive. With every substrate examined, oat seed peroxygenase exhibited specificity for epoxidation, producing no other products, and oxirane ring opening did not occur.
TL;DR: In this paper, a methodology for the determination of epoxide equivalent weights (EEW) in liquid epoxy resins based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR) spectroscopy is described.