The operating conditions of the synthesis of 2-furyl oxirane by solid-liquid phase transfer in low hydrated organic medium in two different experimental domains (different particle size distributions of the base; different sulphonium salts) were optimized according to two different optimization approaches. The first approach is based on the use of empirical models (response surface models) and the second on the use of mechanistic models ("tendency modelling"). A comparison of the optimization results allows an assessment of relative benefits and drawbacks of the two approaches. Optimum yields in the two different experimental domains were 89 and 95.5%, respectively.