Catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters using an yttrium-biphenyldiol complex.

We succeeded in a catalytic asymmetric epoxidation reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters via a conjugate addition of an oxidant using 2-10 mol % of the yttirium-chiral biphenyldiol catalyst. A variety of substrates with beta-aryl and beta-alkyl substituents were epoxidized efficiently, yielding the corresponding alpha,beta-epoxy esters in up to 97% yield and 99% ee.