Optically active β-ketoiminato manganese(III) complexes as efficient catalysts in enantioselective aerobic epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins

A novel manganese(III) complex having an optically active N, N′-ethylenebis-β-ketoimine ligand was prepared and characterized crystallographically. The manganese(III) complexes behave as effective catalysts in enantioselective epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins by combined use of molecular oxygen, an oxidant, and pivalaldehyde, a reductant. Dihydronaphthalene derivatives were converted into the corresponding optically active epoxides with good to high enantioselectivities.