Role of Epoxides in the Oxidation of Allyl Alcohol, Allyl Formate, and Allyl Acetate in Acetic Acid

The formation of epoxy derivatives as intermediate products in the oxidation of allyl alcohol, allylformate, allyl acetate in acetic acid was proved. Intermediate epoxy compounds undergo further trans-formations: They react with acetic acid to give glycerol esters or are converted into polyethers of glyceroland its esters. The rate constants for transformations of 2,3-epoxypropanol, 2,3-epoxypropyl formate, and 2,3-epoxypropyl acetate along these pathways were measured. Higher selectivity of glycerol ester formation from allyl formate was substantiated.