Enantioselective epoxidation of unfunctionalized simple olefins by non-racemic molybdenum(VI)(oxo-diperoxo) complexes

Molybdenum(VI)(oxo-diperoxo) complexes bearing bidentate ligands with hydroxy and carbonyl functions show asymmetric induction in the stoichiometric epoxidation of simple prochiral olefins. The influence of the ligand and alkene structure on the enantiomeric excess of the oxiranes has been investigated. The addition of chiral diols to the molybdenum(VI)(oxo-diperoxo) reagents gives high enantiomeric excesses probably because of an efficient kinetic resolution of the oxiranes formed.