Epoxidation of stilbene using supported gold nanoparticles: cumyl peroxyl radical activation at the gold nanoparticle surface.

The catalytic epoxidation of cis-stilbene using cumene as a solvent in the presence of supported gold nanoparticles (AuNP) yields a mixture of cis and trans-stilbene oxides. EPR and product distribution studies support a new mechanistic proposal where oxygen centred radicals activate the AuNP surface and form active surface oxygen species responsible for the epoxidation products.