Asymmetric metal-catalysed epoxidation of electron-deficient olefins

Abstract The SYN diastereospecific epoxidation of acyclic β-hydroxyketones (β-hydroxyacrylates) and cyclic β-hydroxyketones using titanium and vanadium catalysts is reported. Some initial results on the asymmetric epoxidation of these systems using the Sharpless titanium-tartrate catalyst are also described.