Highly enantioselective epoxidation of 2.4-diarylenones by using dimeric cinchona phase-transfer catalysts: Enhancement of enantioselectivity by surfactants
Dramatic increases in reaction rates and enantioselectivities can be effected by the use of surfactants for the phase-transfer catalytic epoxidation of aromatic enones. Based on the X-ray crystal structure of the most effective catalyst-a modified cinchona alkaloid-a plausible transition state of the reaction has been modeled (see picture; HOO- yellow, C gray, H white, N blue, O red).