Non-racemic terminal long-chain alkyl epoxides are prepared from racemic epoxides and 1 mol%(R, R)-and (S, S)-salen (Co) III catalysts following a modified procedure for kinetic resolution. The ee's for all epoxides (C-10, C-12, C-14, C-16, C-18, C-20) exceed 95% and the chemical yields range from 85% to 95%.