Hydrophobic Ti–Si Xerogels: Catalysts for the Selective Epoxidation of Olefins and Allylic Alcohols

Hydrophobic amorphous mixed oxides AM-Ti3MeSi40Si were prepared in the absence of modifiers as true xerogels with a narrow mesopore distribution around 3 nm. These materials selectively catalyze the quantitative conversion of olefins and allyl alcohols with an excess of oxidizing agent (TBHP). Regio- and chemoselectivity are comparable to literature data, most commonly obtained with hydrophilic aerogel catalysts and large excesses of olefin.