Formation of persulphate from sodium sulphite and molecular oxygen catalysed by H5PV2Mo10O40 – aerobic epoxidation and hydrolysis

Abstract

The H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀ polyoxometalate catalysed the electron transfer oxidation of sulphite to yield a sulphite radical, SO₃˙⁻ that upon addition of O₂ yielded a peroxosulphate species efficient for the H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀ catalysed epoxidation of alkenes. The acidic polyoxometalate further catalysed hydrolysis of the epoxide to give vicinal diols in high yields.