Titanium dioxide functionalized silicon carbide phases as heterogeneous epoxidation catalysts

We report silicon carbide (SiC) based epoxidation catalysts constituted of a silicon carbide core and a silica/titania (SiO(2)/TiO(2)) shell. The catalysts were obtained via surface modification of SiC microparticles and were used as heterogeneous catalysts for the epoxidation of cyclohexene using tert-butyl hydroperoxide or cumyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant. Conversions up to 83% and selectivities of more than 90% were obtained.