Method of olefin epoxidation

Abstract

An improved method is disclosed for the liquid phase epoxidation of an olefin to the corresponding oxirane which includes intimately contacting an olefin compound with molecular oxygen in the presence of a suitable solvent and a catalytically effective amount of a molybdenum containing catalyst material at a temperature of from about 210.degree. C to about 270.degree. C under a pressure sufficient to maintain the reactants, products and by-products substantially in liquid phase. The molybdenum containing catalyst material is characterized as an oxidized alkyl molybdate complex which is substantially soluble in the reaction mixture containing the olefin, solvent, products and by-products. The molybdenum containing catalyst material is prepared by contacting an inorganic molybdenum compound with an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, in the presence of an effective amount of a weak base, to form a lower oligomeric alkyl molybdate compound. The lower oligomeric alkyl molybdate compound is then oxidized in the presence of an oxidizing amount of molecular oxygen to form the oxidized alkyl molybdate complex catalyst.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.