Epoxidation of aromatic α,β-unsaturated ketones using PVP-H2O2 under mild and heterogeneous conditions

α,β-Unsaturated ketones (chalcones) react with PVP-H2O2 in aqueous sodium hydroxide and 1,4-dioxane as solvent at 40 °C to give the corresponding epoxides under mild and heterogeneous conditions in excellent yields.