| abstract |
A process for preparing an optically-enriched chiral epoxide of formula (I), wherein R<1>, R<2> and R<3> are each independently selected from H, R, R-CO- and R-O-CO-, each R independently being substantially a hydrocarbon group of up to 20 carbon atoms, and X is an alkyl or cycloalkyl group of up to 10 carbon atoms, provided that -CO-X is not enolisable, which comprises the asymmetric epoxidation of a corresponding prochiral alkene of the formula (II): R<1>R<2>C=CR<3>-CO-X, by reaction with an oxidant in the presence of a chiral catalyst. Many optically-enriched epoxides (I) are novel. |