Self-supported BINOL-Zn catalysts for heterogeneous enantioselective epoxidation of (E)-α,β-unsaturated ketones

A class of chiral self-supported catalysts prepared from bis-BINOL ligands and diethyl zinc were successfully applied in the hetereogeneous enantioselective epoxidation of a range of (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, affording the corresponding epoxy ketones in high enantioselectivity. The self-supported catalysts were easily recovered from the reaction mixture and were reusable for several consecutive runs. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.