Catalytic Epoxidation of Enones Mediated by Zinc Alkylperoxide/<i>tert-</i>BuOOH Systems

The epoxidation of enones by zinc alkylperoxides is a challenging task receiving considerable attention in contemporary research; however, until now no well-defined zinc alkylperoxide based systems have been described. Here, a new catalytic method of epoxidation of enones in the presence of zinc alkylperoxides supported by N,N-bidentate ligands and <i>tert</i>-butyl hydroperoxide is reported. A new dimeric zinc alkylperoxide complex supported by an aminotroponiminate ligand is also presented. The studied catalytic systems show high activity in the epoxidation of <i>trans</i>-chalcone, and in the case of a chiral catalyst with the (<i>S</i>,<i>S</i>)-<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>′-bis­(1-phenylethyl)­aminotroponiminate ligand a moderate enantioselectivity was achieved