Abstract
Kinetic studies have been carried out on the epoxidation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-one, (chalcone) with t-butyl hydroperoxide using Na-3[VO(2)EDTA] as a catalyst. The results showed that the order of epoxidation is one each with respect to chalcone, t-BuOOH and the catalyst. It was observed that the presence of an electron-donating group in chalcone favours the epoxidation process. Based on the experimental observation a tentative free radical mechanism is proposed for the epoxidation reaction.