Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 22, 2026

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
Published on: May 22, 2016
Epoxidations by peracid anions in water: ambiphilic oxenoid reactivity and stereoselectivity
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles 90095-1569, USA.
Abstract:
[reaction: see text] Transition structures have been located for oxygen transfer from performate anion to ethylene, propene, vinylamine, vinyl chloride, vinyl cyanide, and 2-propen-1-ol at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level in a CPCM continuum model for water. Oxygen transfer is concerted, except for acrylonitrile, which is stepwise. Peracid anions react as ambiphilic oxygen donors. Predictions are made about the diastereoselectivity of epoxidations of acylic, chiral, and allylic alcohols in an alkaline solution, and one is verified experimentally.
Related Concept Videos
Regioselectivity of Electrophilic Additions-Peroxide Effect
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids
Oxidative Cleavage of Alkenes: Ozonolysis
Ozone is a symmetrical bent molecule stabilized by a resonance structure.
Preparation of Epoxides
Epoxides result from alkene oxidation, which can be achieved by a) air, b) peroxy acids, c) hypochlorous acids, and d) halohydrin cyclization.
Epoxidation with Peroxy Acids
Epoxidation of alkenes via oxidation with peroxy acids involves the conversion of a carbon–carbon double bond to an epoxide using the oxidizing agent meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, commonly known as MCPBA. Since the O–O bond of peroxy acids is very weak, the addition of electrophilic oxygen of peroxy acids to...
Acid-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides

