Epoxidation of olefins with a silica-supported peracid.

Anhydrous [2-percarboxyethyl] functionalized silica (2a) is an advantageous oxidant for performing the epoxidation of olefins 1. Epoxides 3 do not undergo the ring-opening reactions catalyzed by the acidic silica surface, except for particularly activated cases such as styrene oxide. The hydrophilic and acidic character of the silica surface does not interfere with the directing effects exerted by allylic H-bond acceptor substituents. The alkenes 1 carrying hydroxyl groups react with silica-supported peracid 2a faster than unsubstituted alkenes, thus reversing the trend known for reactions with soluble peracids. These results are attributed to the H-bond interactions of substrate 1 with the silanol and carboxylic acid groups bonded to the silica surface.

Epoxidation of olefins with a silica-supported peracid in supercritical carbon dioxide under flow conditions.

Anhydrous 2-percarboxyethyl-functionalized silica (2b), a recyclable supported peracid, is a suitable reagent to perform the epoxidation of alkenes 1 in supercritical carbon dioxide at 250 bar and 40 °C under flow conditions. This procedure simplifies the isolation of the reaction products and uses only carbon dioxide as a solvent under mild conditions. The solid reagent 2b can be easily recycled by a reaction with 30% hydrogen peroxide in an acid medium.

Reactions at interfaces: oxygenation of n-butyl ligands anchored on silica surfaces with methyl(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane.

The oxygenation of n-butyl and n-butoxy chains bonded to silica with methyl(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane (1) revealed the ability of the silica matrix to release electron density toward the reacting C(2)-H σ-bond through the Si-C(1) and Si-O(1) σ-bonds connecting the alkyl chain to the surface (silicon ß-effect). The silica surface impedes neither the alkyl chain adopting the conformation required for the silicon ß-effect nor dioxirane 1 approaching the reactive C(2) methylene group. Reaction regioselectivity is insensitive to changes in the solvation of the reacting system, the location of organic ligands on the silica surface, and the H-bonding character of the silica surface. Reaction rates are faster for those organic ligands either within the silica pores or bonded to hydrophilic silica surfaces, which evidence the enhanced molecular dynamics of confined dioxirane 1 and the impact of surface phenomena on the reaction kinetics. The oxygenation of n-butyl and n-butoxy chains carrying trimethylsilyl, trimethoxysilyl, and tert-butyl groups with dioxirane 1 under homogeneous conditions confirms the electronic effects of the silyl substituents and the consequences of steric hindrance on the reaction rate and regioselectivity. Orthosilicic acid esters react preferentially at the methylene group adjacent to the oxygen atom in clear contrast with the reactivity of the carboxylic or sulfonic acid alkyl esters, which efficiently protect this position toward oxidation with 1.