A　series　of　dimolybdenum　metal　catalysts　with　different　ligand　have　been　successfully　synthesized　and　used　to　catalyze　the　epoxidation　of　alkenes　to　generate　epoxides　by　using　tert-butyl-hydroperoxide　(TBHP)　as　oxidant.　The　reaction　condition　was　optimized　by　the　adjustment　of　some　key　parameters,　such　as,　temperature,　to　target　high　catalytic　performance.　The　oxidation　of　cyclooctene　gave　95.00%　conversion　and　almost　100.00%　selectivity.　Kinetic　study　of　the　oxidation　of　cyclooctene　under　different　temperature　was　taken　out,　indicating　the　reaction　have　good　catalytic　performance.　Furthermore,　it　is　calculated　from　the　Arrhenius　equation　that　different　functional　groups　affect　the　activation　energy　of　the　reaction.　The　electron　donor　group　substituent　on　the　liagnd　increases　the　catalytic　activity　by　reducing　the　activation　energy,　and　vice　versa.　Finally,　a　possible　catalytic　mechanism　has　been　proposed　by　measuring　the　electronic　absorption　spectrum　of　the　reaction.　©　2020　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.