Tetrahedron Letters

An investigation into oxo analogues of molybdenum olefin metathesis complexes as epoxidation catalysts for alkenes

JC Anderson, NM Smith, M Robertson, MS Scott

Index: Anderson, James C.; Smith, Neil M.; Robertson, Michelle; Scott, Mark S. Tetrahedron Letters, 2009 , vol. 50, # 38 p. 5344 - 5346

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Citation Number: 5

Abstract

The oxo-imido molybdenum complex 2a is an effective catalyst at low catalyst loadings (0.5 mol% or below) for the epoxidation of a range of alkenes with tBuOOH in PhMe at 90° C. Reactions are complete in less than 4h and the products are isolated in high yields. The catalytic system is chemoselective for the epoxidation of electron-rich alkenes and allylic alcohols.