Patent ID: 7482478

Claim:
A method for synthesizing a trans-/erythro-epoxide from an allylically substituted alkene comprising the step of catalyzing the reaction of a bicarbonate activated hydrogen peroxide oxidant and derivatives thereof and the allylically substituted alkene with a catalytic amount of a manganese metalloporphyrin as the catalyst for producing the epoxide, wherein the alkene has the formula R—CH(R 1 )—CH═CH—CH—R in which each of the carbon atoms is optionally substituted and two R groups can be linked to form with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, a 5-, 6-, 7-, 8- or 9-membered ring, which itself can be fused to another ring, and R 1 is a halogen, heteroatom, hydroxyl, alkoxy, substituted hydroxy, carboxyl, carbonyl, cyano, silyl, boro, phosphorus containing, sulfur containing, amino, substituted amino, nitro, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl group allylic substituent.