Highly efficient epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones by hydrogen peroxide with a base hydrotalcite catalyst prepared from metal oxides

The base hydrotalcite, prepared from MgO and Al2O3, acted as a highly efficient catalyst for the epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones using aqueous hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. This heterogeneous epoxidation has the advantages of a high efficiency of H2O2 utilization without organic solvents, a simple workup procedure, and reusability of the hydrotalcite catalyst.