Epoxidation–alcoholysis of cyclic enol ethers catalyzed by Ti(OⁱPr)₄ or Venturello's peroxophosphotungstate complex

Venturello's peroxophosphotungstate compound and Ti(OⁱPr)₄ were successfully used as catalysts for the epoxidation–alcoholysis of various dihydropyrans and dihydrofuran using H₂O₂ as the oxidant. Different alcohols can be used as solvents and nucleophiles, resulting in hydroxy ether products with varying alkoxy groups. The Venturello compound can also be used as catalyst in a biphasic conversion of dihydropyran, in which long chain alcohols or fatty acids are incorporated in the hydroxy ether products with high yield and (stereo)selectivity.