Enzymatic-like mediated olefins epoxidation by molecular oxygen under mild conditions

Highly efficient epoxidation of olefins by molecular oxygen with catalytic amount of manganese meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (Mn(TPP)) at the ppm level were reported. The catalyst conferred high activity and selectivity for the olefins epoxidation under ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. The turnover number (TON) of the catalyst could reach up to 700 million, which is comparable to enzyme catalysis. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.