Enantioselective epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins using chiral (salen)manganese(III) complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)74486-8

Chiral (salen)manganese(III) complexes (3 and 4) were prepared and used for the enantioselective epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins. The highest enantioselectivity of 48% ee for the catalytic epoxidation of (E)-stilbene was realized by using 3 as a catalyst though much lower enantioselectivity (7% ee) was obtained for that of (E)-1-phenyl-1-propene. In the epoxidation of (Z)-olefins, enantioselectivities were in the range of 68~72% ee by using 3 as a catalyst and 60% ee by using 4.