title: Asymmetric epoxidation with a photoactivated [Ru(salen)] complex.
abstract: (Nitrosyl)(salen)ruthenium(II) complex 1 was found to serve as an efficient catalyst for the epoxidation of conjugated olefins under photoirradiation, with 2,6-dichloropyridine N-oxide (2) or tetramethylpyrazine N,N'-dioxide as a stoichiometric oxidant. High enantioselectivity was achieved irrespective of the substitution pattern of olefins. The choice of solvent depends on stability of the resulting epoxides: high enantioselectivity is generally observed in the reaction with ethereal solvents, but use of benzene is recommended when the resulting epoxides are acid-sensitive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Graduate School, Kyushu University 33, Fukuoka, Japan. katsuscc@mbox.nc.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Irie
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katsuki