ChemInform Abstract: Ru-Salen Catalyzed Asymmetric Epoxidation: Photoactivation of Catalytic Activity

ON + )(Salen)ruthenium(II) complex 1 was found to be an efficient catalyst for the epoxidation of conjugated olefins under sunlight coming through windows or incandescent light. The most suitable terminal oxidant was 2,6-dichloropyridine N-oxide 2. All the examined conjugated olefins showed high enantioselectivity greater than 80% ee, irrespective of their substitution pattern.