Abstract: A method of epoxidizing an unsaturated compound having a carbon-to-carbon double bond to form an oxirane ring across the double bond comprising adding to said unsaturated compound (a) an organic acid capable of being oxidized to form a peracid; (b) an oxidizing agent selected from hydrogen peroxide or acetaldehyde monoperacetate, or a combination thereof; and (c) with or without an acid catalyst selected from a mineral acid or styrene sulfonic acid, or a combination thereof to form a reactant mixture; and forming the reactant mixture in a film against a wall of a thin-film reactor that is at a temperature sufficient to form a peracid from the organic acid, and contacting the film of reactant mixture against the film reactor wall for a time sufficient for reaction of a portion of the peracid with the unsaturated compound to form an oxirane ring across a double bond of the unsaturated compound. In another embodiment, preformed peracid and unsaturated compound are added directly to the thin-film reactor.

Abstract: A method of epoxidizing an unsaturated compound having a carbon-to-carbon double bond to form an oxirane ring across the double bond comprising adding to said unsaturated compound an oxidizing agent selected from hydrogen peroxide, acetaldehyde monoperacetate, an organic hydroperoxide, or a combination thereof, to form a reactant mixture; and forming the reactant mixture in a film against a wall of the thin-film reactor that is at a temperature sufficient for reaction of the oxidizing agent with the unsaturated compound to form an oxirane ring across a double bond of the unsaturated compound.