Epoxidation of Olefins Catalyzed by Some cis-Dioxomolybdenum(VI)-Tridentate Schiff Base Complexes with tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide

Some cis-dioxomolybdenum (VI) complexes with tridentate Schiff base ligands derived from salicylaldehyde and aminophenols, aminoalcohol or o-aminobenzenethiol were examined as catalysts for epoxidation of different aliphatic and aromatic olefins, with tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant. All complexes exhibited high activity and selectivity for epoxidation of aliphatic substrates during a short time period (95% conversion of cyclooctene after 30 min). The epoxide yield increased with the nucleophilic character of olefin. The catalysts activation strongly depends on the reaction temperature and nature of the solvent. Epoxidation of olefins by these catalysts is inhibited by ligands or coordinating solvents such as alcohols.