Exploring structural effects of ketone catalysts on asymmetric epoxidation of olefins

Several ketone catalysts containing spiro ethers and lactones have been investigated for the asymmetric epoxidation of olefins. The results showed that substituents on the spiro ring of the ketone catalysts have profound effects on enantioselectivity. Results also suggested that the high enantioselectivities previously observed for conjugated cis-olefins with oxazolidinone containing ketones could be partially due to attractive interactions between the Rπ group of the olefin and the carbonyl group of the oxazolidinone. In addition, nonbonding interactions such as van der Waals forces and/or hydrophobic interactions between the olefin substituents and the nitrogen substituents of the oxazolidinone may also be involved in stereodifferentiation. The information gained provides additional understanding of factors important for ketone catalyzed epoxidations.