| abstract |
Disclosed is a process for preparing an epoxidized polyalkenylene having a number-average molar mass of between 500 and 50,000 g/mol and an epoxide oxygen content of between 1 and 25 percent by mass, which comprises reacting a polyalkenylene with from 15 to 90% strength hydrogen peroxide and a carboxylic acid having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the presence of a phosphonic acid or a derivative thereof as a catalyst but without further addition of an organic solvent or water. The catalyst is highly active and effective, dissolving poorly in the polymer but very readily in water. Therefore after the reaction, the catalyst and other compounds of the epoxidized polyalkenylene can be easily separated from the reaction mixture. |