Biphasic process for epoxidation of olefinic compound using chromate or dichromate catalyst

A biphasic process for the liquid phase epoxidation of an olefinic compound comprising at least one olefinic group to an epoxide by an organic hydroperoxide, using a catalyst comprising chromate or dichromate anions, the process comprising:

• (i) contacting a liquid mixture containing the olefinic compound and the organic hydroperoxide compound with an aqueous solution of the catalyst in a stirred batch reactor in the presence of water such that the olefinic compound and the organic hydroperoxide are present in non-aqueous organic phase and the catalyst is present in dissolved form in aqueous phase;
• the mole ratio of organic hydroperoxide to olefinic compound being in the range of 0.1 to 10, the weight ratio of catalyst to olefinic compound being in the range of 0.0005 to 0.5;
• (ii) separating the aqueous layer containing the catalyst;
• and
• (iii) separating the reaction products and unconverted reactants from the non-aqueous organic phase.