Oxidation of geraniol using niobia modified with hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

Nb2O5 bulk and Nb2O5 modified with H2O2 were studied in the epoxidation of geraniol at 1 bar and room temperature. The structural and morphological properties for both catalysts were very similar, indicating that the peroxo-complex species were not formed. The order of the reaction was one respect to geraniol and close to zero respect to H2O2, these values fit well with the kinetic data obtained. The geraniol epoxidation is favored by the presence of peroxo groups, which is reached using an excess of H2O2. Moreover, the availability of the geraniol to adopt the three-membered-ring transition state was found as the best form for this type of compound.