Carbodiimide-Promoted Olefin Epoxidation with Aqueous Hydrogen Peroxide(,).

Commercially available carbodiimides in hydroxylic solvents containing hydrogen peroxide with mildly basic or acidic catalysts have been found to promote the epoxidation of olefins. A commercially available 30% aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide serves as the oxidant for this process. The presumed reactive species is a peroxyisourea generated in situ by the addition of hydrogen peroxide to the carbodiimide.