Kinetic study of hydroperoxide epoxidation of 1-octene in the presence of molybdenum disilicide as a catalyst in a low concentration range of olefin

The kinetic regularities of the influence of low 1-octene concentrations on its epoxidation by tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2) as a catalyst were investigated. The minimum in the dependence of the initial rate of hydroperoxide consumption on 1-octene concentration was observed. The kinetic scheme of epoxidation, which includes the competition between hydroperoxide and olefin for the catalytic active centers, was proposed. The equation for the reaction rate was derived according to the kinetic scheme. The kinetic parameters of epoxidation were calculated. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 623–628, 2009