Ketone-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation reactions.

This Account summarizes our efforts in developing organic ketone catalysts for enantioselective and diastereoselective epoxidation of olefins. We have developed an efficient and general protocol for epoxidation of olefins using dioxiranes generated in situ from activated ketones and Oxone (2KHSO5.KHSO4.K2SO4) in a homogeneous aqueous solvent system. We have also developed chiral ketone catalysts for highly enantioselective epoxidation of unfunctionalized trans-olefins and trisubstituted olefins. Excellent diastereoselectivities have been achieved for epoxidation of substituted cyclohexenes with ketone catalysts.