Asymmetric epoxidation of olefins . The first enantioselective epoxidation of unfunctionalised olefins catalysed by a chiral ruthenium complex with H2O2 as oxidant

Abstract

Up to 40% ee was obtained in the asymmetric epoxidation of styrene and other unfunctionalised olefins catalysed by the ruthenium(II) complex [RuCl(PNNP)]PF₆ (PNNP = N,N′-{(o-diphenylphosphino)benzylidene}-(1S,2S)-diiminocyclohexane)

using hydrogen peroxide as the primary oxidant.