Inverse solvent effects in the heterogeneous and homogeneous epoxidation of cis-2-heptene with [2-percarboxyethyl]-functionalized silica and meta-chloroperbenzoic acid.

The rate constants for the epoxidation of cis-2-heptene with [2-percarboxyethyl]-functionalized silica (1a) and meta-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA) (1b) in different solvents have been determined at temperatures in the −10 to 40 °C range. The heterogeneous epoxidation exhibits a dependence of the reaction rate on solvent polarity opposite to its homogeneous counterpart and anomalous activation parameters in n-hexane, which are interpreted in terms of the surface-promoted solvent structure at the solid–liquid interface. The results show that highly polar solvents can strongly inhibit heterogeneous reactions performed with silica-supported reagents or catalysts.