| abstract |
A process for the preparation of water-soluble vicinal diols by means of a direct catalytic hydroxylation of the corresponding olefines with H 2 O 2 . An olefine possibly carrying functional groups inert under the reaction conditions, and whose corresponding vicinal diol is soluble in water, is made to react, under vigorous stirring, with H 2 O 2 at a temperature between 0° and 120° C. and at a pressure between 1 and 100 atmospheres, in a two-phase aqueous liquid/organic liquid system consisting or consisting essentially of an acid aqueous phase containing H 2 O 2 and of an organic phase containing (1) said olefine; (2) possibly a solvent immiscible with the aqueous phase; and (3) a catalyst of the formula: n n Q.sub.3 XW.sub.4 O.sub.24-2n n n wherein Q represents an onium (RR 1 R 2 R 3 M) + cation, wherein M is chosen from among N, P, As and Sb, and R, R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , equal to or different from each other, represent hydrogen atoms or hydrocarbon groups having a total of from 20 to 70 carbon atoms; X is an atom of P or As; and n is an integer chosen from among 0, 1 and 2. |