Oxidation of α-hydroxy containing monoterpenes using titanium silicate catalysts: comments on regioselectivity and the role of acidity

The regioselective epoxidation of monoterpenes in the liquid phase has been studied using the titanosilicates TS-1 and TiAlβ. A range of oxidants (hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide and urea–hydrogen peroxide complex) have been studied in detail. The allylic alcohols linalool and geraniol have been studied alongside the non-allylic alcohol citronellol and the diene dihydromyrcene to help determine the role of the hydroxy group in these reactions. Dihydromyrcene is selectively epoxidised at the more electron rich double bond regardless of the catalyst–oxidant–solvent system used. Geraniol can undergo allylic assisted epoxidation with TS-1–acetone–hydrogen peroxide and TiAlβ–acetonitrile–urea–hydrogen peroxide. With TiAlβ–hydrogen peroxide–methanol, the reaction shows an induction period in the conversion of geraniol which is considered to be characteristic of the autocatalytic removal of titanium from the catalyst framework. Reactions with citronellol show this titanium removal is entirely due to the presence of the allylic alcohol moiety. Finally, epoxidation of linalool and the subsequent in situ conversion of the epoxide to the furano- and pyrano-oxides were studied. The ratio of furano- and pyrano-oxides formed was considered to be due, in part, to the pore geometry and the Bronsted acidity of the catalyst.