An Epoxidation of Alkenes using H₂O₂ (aq.) and 2,2,2-Trifluoroacetophenone

Limnios and Kokotos have reported the environmentally friendly epoxidation of alkenes using 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone as an organocatalyst in combination with a green oxidant aqueous H₂O₂. Various olefins are epoxidized chemoselectively in high to quantitative yields utilizing 2-5 mol% of the organocatalyst loading in acetonitrile and tert-butyl alcohol.