John Robert Briggs

Selective ethylene oxide hydrolysis catalysed by oxo-molybdenum species

Abstract Ortho-molybdate and ortho-tungstate (MO2−4, M = Mo or W) are selective catalysts for the hydrolysis of ethylene oxide. Model compounds synthesized from epoxides and organic soluble molybdate and tungstate salts of the bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium cation suggest that intermediates in this reaction are anionic molybdenum(VI) or tungsten(VI) alkoxide complexes of type [MO2(OCH2CH2O)2]2−, containing chelating vicinal dialkoxide ligands derived from the epoxide residue. Hydrolysis of an ethylene oxide derived complex has been shown to yield exclusively monoethylene glycol as the organic product, with the regeneration of the metallate dianion (MO2−4).