2-(2,3-epoxypropyl)phenol composition and method of making

A composition comprising:

• 1 to 90 weight percent of 2-(2,3-epoxypropyl)-6-methylphenol
• 5 to 90 weight percent of 2-allyl-6-methylphenol
• 0 to 40 weight percent of 8-methyl-3-chromanol
• wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the 2-(2,3-epoxypropyl)-6-methylphenol, 2-allyl-6-methylphenol, and 8-methyl-3-chromanol.

A method of making a 2-(2,3-epoxypropyl)phenol, comprising reacting a 2-allylphenol with an oxidant in the presence of a catalyst;

• wherein the 2-allylphenol comprises
• and the 2-(2,3-epoxypropyl)phenol comprises
• and
• wherein each occurrence of Z is independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C12 hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C1-C12 hydrocarbylthio, C1-C12 hydrocarbyloxy, or C2-C12 halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms;
• and
• wherein the oxidant comprises m-chloroperbenzoic or hydrogen peroxide, and/or the catalyst comprises bis(acetylacetonato)dioxomolybdenum (VI), molybdenum dichloride dioxide, tungstic acid, tungsten hexacarbonyl, or combination thereof.