Catalytic Epoxidation of Organics from Vegetable Sources

Epoxidation reaction is a key transformation that converts alkenes into oxidized derivatives. If one considers the variety of organic molecules derived from vegetable sources, unsaturated fats (as well as fatty acid derivatives) and unsaturated terpenes are virtually the only substrate compounds that can undergo epoxidation directly and can be transformed into a broad series of high value-added intermediates and products. Catalysis, under the form of homogeneous, heterogeneous, or enzymatic transformations, plays an ever-increasing role in gradually and efficiently replacing conventional noncatalytic methods with more active, selective, environmentally friendly, and economically sound epoxidation techniques. A careful caseby- case analysiswill help the synthetic chemist in the choice toward the most suitable epoxidation method.