Patent ID: 8163941

Claim:
A method for producing an optically active epoxy compound, comprising: using as a catalyst a complex represented by any of the following formulae (I), (I′), (II), (II′), (III), (III′), (IV), and (IV′): subjecting an unsaturated compound represented by the following formula (V): R 5 —CH═CH—R 6 (V) to an asymmetric epoxidation with an oxidant to produce an optically active epoxy compound represented by the following formula (VI): wherein: R 1 s are independently an alkyl group or an aryl group; R 2 s are independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; R 3 s are independently an alkyl group or an aryl group, provided that two R 3 s are optionally bonded with each other to form a ring; R 4 s are independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a nitro group or a cyano group; M is TiY 2 , wherein Y is Cl or alkoxide or the complex forms a di-μ-oxo-dimer where Y is a μ-oxo ligand; and each of R 5 and R 6 is a different monovalent group or a hydrogen atom.