Process for oxidation of olefinically-unsaturated compounds.

摘要

The invention provides a process for epoxidising an olefinic double bond in an olefinically-unsaturated compound other than an (a, β)-unsaturated carboxylic acid or a compound containing a six-membered ring wherein 3 to 4 member atoms are carbon atoms having sp' hybrid orbitals, by treatment of a liquid phase mixture of the olefinically-unsaturated compound, an aldehyde containing at least two carbon atoms and a suitable solvent with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst which is soluble in the reaction mixture and which comprises a praseodymium compound. The process has particularly advantageous application to oxidation of aldrin to dieldrin.