Recent progress in asymmetric epoxidation of olefins catalyzed by non-heme iron, manganese complexes

Abstract

Optically active epoxides are regarded as important intermediates in organic reactions. Metallooxy-genases-catalyzed oxidations often exhibit high efficiency as well as selectivity, and operate under mild conditions through inherently green processes. Asymmetric epoxidation of olefins catalyzed by a series of iron or manganese complexes with chiral tetradentate nitrogen ligands to mimic non-heme iron dioxygenase has become an important method for obtaining chiral epoxides with high yields and high enantioselectivities. Recent progress in asymmetric epoxidation of olefins catalyzed by iron or manganese complexes with tetradentate nitrogen ligands and the corresponding mechanisms are described.