Enantioselective epoxidation of α,β-enones promoted by α,α-diphenyl-L-prolinol as bifunctional organocatalyst

An operationally simple and mild protocol for the catalytic enantioselective epoxiclation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones has been estabilished using commercially available a,a-diphenyl-L-prolinol as bifunctional organocatalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as oxidant. The epoxides have been obtained in good yields and with up to 80% ee.