Asymmetric epoxidation of cis-β-methylstyrenes catalyzed by N-aryl substituted oxazolidinone-containing ketones. A beneficial substituent effect

Asymmetric epoxidation of substituted cis-β-methylstyrenes using N-aryl substituted oxazolidinone-containing ketones as catalysts shows that substituents on the phenyl group of the olefin have significant positive effects on the enantioselectivity of the epoxidation, indicating a beneficial interaction between the phenyl group of the olefin and the phenyl group of the ketone catalyst.