Producing epoxide from olefin using metal nitro complexes

摘要

An olefinically unsaturated substrate is reacted with a transition metal nitro complex, having the transition metal bonded to the nitrogen of the nitro radical, in the presence of a thallium(III) compound as cocatalyst to cause the production of oxirane products, rather than aldehydes or ketones. The process is applicable to the production of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, epichlorohydrin, epoxidized fatty acids and oxiranes from various other internal and terminal olefins.