Development of a new triphase catalyst and its application to the epoxidation of allylic alcohols

[see reaction]. A new triphase catalyst has been developed. When an aqueous solution of H3PW12O40 (1) was added to a solution of the amphiphilic chain copolymer 2, a new self-assembled and macroporous complex 3 was formed. This complex was effective as a catalyst in the epoxidation of allylic alcohols. Even in the use of 2.7 x 10(-5) mole equiv of the catalyst, the epoxidation with aqueous H2O2 proceeded without organic solvents to give the corresponding epoxy alcohols in high yields.