Selective epoxidation of alkenes using highly active V-SBA-15 materials: microwave vs. conventional heating

Abstract

V-SBA-15 materials prepared using a hydrothermal methodology were found to be highly active and selective in the oxidation of a range of alkanes under mild reaction conditions. The activities of the systems were compared under conventional and microwave heating. Microwave experiments demonstrated that the long times of reaction (12–24 h) required under conventional heating could be reduced to a few minutes (15–60) with improved activities and selectivities under similar reaction conditions.