Epoxidation of phosphinoyl alkenes with hydrogen peroxide

The epoxidation of alkenylphosphorus compounds with hydrogen peroxide was systematically studied, revealing that while alkenylphosphine oxides failed to produce the corresponding epoxides, alkenylphosphonates, or phosphinates having a phenyl group at α-position reacted with H₂O₂/K₂CO₃ or alkenylphosphonic acids or phosphinic acids having an aliphatic group at α- or β-positions reacted with H₂O₂/Na₂WO₄/Et₃N to produce high yields of the corresponding epoxides.