Rui Zhang, Wing-Yiu Yu, Tat-Shing Lai and Chi-Ming Che
A series of D2-symmetric chiral trans-dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrins can effect enantioselective epoxidation of trans-β-methylstyrene in up to 70% ee, and 76% ee is attained for the oxidation of cinnamyl chloride; the facial selection for the trans-alkenes epoxidation is explained by a ‘head-on approach’ model.