Asymmetric epoxidation

Asymmetric epoxidation is a subset of asymmetric catalytic oxidations. Epoxidations convert prochiral (and other) alkenes to chiral epoxide derivatives. In asymmetric epoxidation, the two chiral products are produced in unequal amounts. The same catalysts are useful in the diastereoselective epoxidations, whereby one chiral alkene epoxidizes more rapidly than its enantiomer.

Two popular versions of asymmetric epoxidations are:[1]

References

  1. Smith, Michael B.; March, Jerry (2007), Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure (6th ed.), New York: Wiley-Interscience, ISBN 978-0-471-72091-1
  2. Katsuki, T.; Sharpless, K. B. (1980). "The first practical method for asymmetric epoxidation". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 102 (18): 5974–5976. Bibcode:1980JAChS.102.5974K. doi:10.1021/ja00538a077.
  3. Hill, J. G.; Sharpless, K. B.; Exon, C. M.; Regenye, R. Org. Synth., Coll. Vol. 7, p. 461 (1990); Vol. 63, p. 66 (1985). (Article Archived 2013-09-27 at the Wayback Machine)