Vanadium-catalyzed asymmetric oxidations

Chirally modified vanadium complexes have been used as catalysts in enantioselective epoxidations of allylic alcohols and asymmetric sulfide to sulfoxide oxidations. For both reactions various combinations of chiral ligands and vanadium sources have been tested. The results of previous work and those of current investigations are discussed and details of the catalysis with respect to enantioselectivity and catalyst turnover is presented. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.