Influence of the solvent on the titanium beta catalyzed oxidation of phenylethylenes without carbon-carbon double bond cleavage

Phenylethylenes can be oxidized in methanol by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of zeolite beta containing titanium (Ti-β) to give predominantly glycol monomethyl ethers (arising from the acidcatalyzed opening up of the primary epoxide) accompanied by lower amounts of carbonyl compounds (derived from the oxidative C—C bond cleavage). These results contrast with those obtained using the same Ti-β catalyst in acetonitrile or acetone as solvent or with those previously reported using titanium silicalite, where C—C bond rupture was the main process.