| abstract |
A process for the enantioselective epoxidation of a prochiral olefin, comprising reacting a prochiral olefin with an oxygen source in the presence of a salt catalyst and an electron donating ligand source, wherein the donor ligand is isoquinoline N-oxide or a compound having donor ligand activity and having substantially the same solubility properties, as isoquinoline-N-oxide; and the compounds used in such a method. Also claimed are a catalyst of formula (III) and intermediates for its preparation, in which M is a transition metal ion and A, if necessary, is a counterion, where B, B ', E and E' are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, C1-6 alkyl, silyl or aryl C1-6 alkyl, in which the aryl or alkyl moiety is optionally substituted, or B 'and B or E' and E together form a C2-6 polymethylene bond, provided that only one of the carbons marked with an asterisk represents a chiral center, where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, or alkoxy. |