2,2,2-Trifluoroacetophenone: An organocatalyst for an environmentally friendly epoxidation of alkenes

Abstract

A cheap, mild, fast, and environmentally friendly oxidation of olefins to the corresponding epoxides is reported using polyfluoroalkyl ketones as efficient organocatalysts. Namely, 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone was identified as an improved organocatalyst for the epoxidation of alkenes. Various olefins, mono-, di-, and trisubstituted, are epoxidized chemoselectively in high to quantitative yields utilizing 2-5 mol % catalyst loading and H2O 2 as the green oxidant. © 2014 American Chemical Society.