biostudies-literaturede Roo CMEuropean Research CouncilMinisterie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap32505-32512https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9041766biostudies-literatureUnknown11(51)The epoxidation of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) with 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) as the diene to epoxidized EPDM (eEPDM) creates additional routes to cross-linking and reactive blending, as well as increasing the polarity and thereby the adhesion to polar materials, <i>e.g.</i>, mineral fillers such as silica. The low solubility of apolar, high molecular weight polymers in the polar solvents constrains the catalytic method for epoxidation that can be applied. Here we have applied an <i>in situ</i> prepared catalyst comprising a manganese(ii) salt, sodium picolinate and a ketone to the epoxidation of EPDM rubber with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as the oxidant in a solvent mixture, that balances the need for polymer and catalyst/oxidant miscibility and solubiRSC advancesOff-line analysis in the manganese catalysed epoxidation of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) with hydrogen peroxide.PMC9041766279549024.001.035de Roo CMMecozzi FKasper JBBrowne Wvan Duin MfalseOff-line analysis in the manganese catalysed epoxidation of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) with hydrogen peroxide.The epoxidation of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) with 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) as the diene to epoxidized EPDM (eEPDM) creates additional routes to cross-linking and reactive blending, as well as increasing the polarity and thereby the adhesion to polar materials, <i>e.g.</i>, mineral fillers such as silica. The low solubility of apolar, high molecular weight polymers in the polar solvents constrains the catalytic method for epoxidation that can be applied. Here we have applied an <i>in situ</i> prepared catalyst comprising a manganese(ii) salt, sodium picolinate and a ketone to the epoxidation of EPDM rubber with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as the oxidant in a solvent mixture, that balances the need for polymer and catalyst/oxidant miscibility and solubi2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Sep2025-04-05T11:08:11.726Z2025-04-05T11:08:11.726ZS-EPMC90417663549548310.1039/d1ra06222k