Extremely low loading of Ru species on hydroxyapatite as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for olefin epoxidation

Abstract

We report a new class promising heterogeneous catalyst for olefin epoxidation based on 0.05 wt% Ru species supported on hydroxyapatite, which was prepared through a simple cation-exchange process between RuCl₃·nH₂O and hydroxyapatite. The new catalyst showed high activity, excellent selectivity and good recyclability for various olefins in the presence of molecular oxygen and iso-butyraldehyde as co-oxidants.