2.2.2 Synthesis of Epoxy methyloleate
The obtained methyl oleate (MO) was epoxidized with the help of in-situ generated performic acid using toulene as a solvent (Campanella et al. 2008). A solution of MO (5 g) in toluene (25 ml) was taken in a 25 ml two neck round bottomed flask kept at 0 C. To the above solution, H2O2 (6.20 ml, 202.364 mmol) and formic acid (1.90 ml, 50.59 mmol) were added sequentially as catalyst. Initially, the reaction mixture was stirred at 0oC as the reaction is exothermic in nature. After 15 min, the reaction mixture was stirred at 80 C for 8 h. After completion (as monitored by TLC), the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and quenched with 5% (w/w) NaHCO3 to neutralize the acid. The organic layer (containing EMO) was extracted using ethylacetate (3 x 30 mL) from above biphasic mixture (toluene and water), collected, dried over anhydrous Na2SO4 and concentrated in vacuo , further the obtained residue was purified by flash chromatography (EtOAc/hexane 0.5: 9.5) to afford epoxy methyl oleate (~ 97% pure) as colourless liquid. [Rf = 0.7, EtOAc/hexane 0.5 : 9.5 v/v].