Catalytic epoxidation of cyclooctene using molybdenum(VI) compounds and urea-hydrogen peroxide in the ionic liquid [bmim]PF6

Commercially available molybdenum(VI) compounds are shown to be good catalysts in the epoxidation of cyclooctene with the urea-hydrogen peroxide adduct (UHP) in the ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [bmim]PF6. The cyclooctene oxide was isolated by simple extraction with organic solvent and the ionic liquid-catalyst mixture recycled and reused.