Facile epoxidation of α, β-unsaturated ketones with urea-2,2-dihydroperoxypropane as a new oxidant

Various aromatic α, β-unsaturated ketones were successfully transformed into their corresponding epoxides using urea-2,2-dihydroperoxypropane as the oxygen source for the first time. The reactions were carried out under mild alkaline conditions at room temperature in high yields and short reaction times.