Copper mediated epoxidation of high oleic natural oils with a cumene–O2 system

• Natural oils can be epoxidized with O2 in the presence of a Cu catalyst.
• Cumene is used as co-solvent and as an oxygen carrier.
• A new polymer supported Cu catalyst is described.

The epoxidation of methyl oleate or high oleic FAMEs from different vegetable oils was carried out in a one-pot reaction over supported copper catalysts by using cumene as oxygen carrier. Cumene firstly reacts with O2 generating cumene hydroperoxide, that by reaction with methyl oleate forms the epoxide. By using 8% Cu catalysts supported on alumina or on a polymer yields up to 87% could be obtained in a single pot at 100 °C.

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