An immobilized molybdenum acetylacetonate complex on expanded starch for the epoxidation of stillingia oil

An active heterogeneous catalyst, namely a molybdenum acetylacetonate complex immobilized on expanded corn starch (ECS-MoO2(acac)(2)), was prepared and its catalytic activity for epoxidation of stillingia oil with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) was investigated. The heterogeneous catalysts were characterized using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analyses, scanning electron microscopy, N-2 adsorption-desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. By using this catalyst, an environmentally benign process for epoxide production in a heterogeneous manner was developed. The catalyst could be recovered easily and reused without significant degradation in its activity for at least 5 times.