Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 18, 2025

Preparation of Silica Nanoparticles Through Microwave-assisted Acid-catalysis
Published on: December 16, 2013
Replacement of Volatile Acetic Acid by Solid SiO2@COOH Silica (Nano)Beads for (Ep)Oxidation Using Mn and Fe Complexes
Yun Wang1,2, Florence Gayet1,3, Jean-Claude Daran1
1CNRS, LCC (Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination), Université de Toulouse, UPS, INPT, 205, Route de Narbonne, F-31077 Toulouse, France.
Abstract:
Mn and Fe BPMEN complexes showed excellent reactivity in catalytic oxidation with an excess of co-reagent (CH3COOH). In the straight line of a cleaner catalytic system, volatile acetic acid was replaced by SiO (nano)particles with two different sizes to which pending carboxylic functions were added (SiO). The SiO beads were obtained by the functionalization of SiO2 with pending nitrile functions (SiO) followed by CN hydrolysis. All complexes and silica beads were characterized by NMR, infrared, DLS, TEM, X-ray diffraction. The replacement of CH3COOH by SiO (100 times less on molar ratio) has been evaluated for (ep)oxidation on several substrates (cyclooctene, cyclohexene, cyclohexanol) and discussed in terms of activity and green metrics.
Related Concept Videos
Sharpless Epoxidation
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...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids
Acid-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides
Alkylation of β-Diester Enolates: Malonic Ester Synthesis
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Potassium Permanganate

