What is epoxidation of alkenes?

1 Answer
Jun 23, 2015

The epoxidation of an alkene is the conversion of the #"C=C"# double bond to an oxirane.

Explanation:

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An oxygen atom joins to each of the alkene carbons to form a three-membered ring.

The reaction is usually carried out in the presence of a peroxyacid.

An example is the reaction of but-1-ene with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (MCPBA) to form 1,2-epoxybutane.

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