Prilezhaev Reaction of Vegetable Oil for Bio‐Based Polyol Production: A Review

This review paper examines the Prilezhaev reaction, commonly known as the epoxidation of vegetable oils, which are renewable resources with promising industrial applications. The epoxidation process involves reacting unsaturated fatty acids with peroxy acids to form epoxide groups, serving as essential intermediates for further chemical transformations. Specifically, this paper provides an overview of various epoxidation techniques and the subsequent production of bio‐polyols, highlighting current advancements, challenges, and alignment with green chemistry principles. Furthermore, the article evaluates ring‐opening reactions of epoxidized vegetable oils using diverse reagents. These reactions yield polyols, which are the key intermediates required for synthesizing polyurethanes and other polymers. Ultimately, transforming vegetable oils into functionalized bio‐based products via epoxidation and ring‐opening reactions offers broad industrial applications in fields such as bioplastics, lubricants, and coatings.