Oxygen‐transfer resins, a new type of oxidation–reduction polymers

Bifunctional cation exchangers with carboxylic and sulfonic acid groups can be oxidized with aqueous hydrogen peroxide which converts the carboxylic to percarboxylic acid groups. The oxidized resins can be used to hydroxylate compounds with olefinic double bonds to form α‐glycols. The resins thus transfer active oxygen from a peroxide to an unsaturated substrate. Oxidation and reduction of the resins is reversible.