Chiral porphyrin imine manganese complex as catalyst for asymmetric epoxidation of styrene derivatives.

New chiral porphyrin imine was synthesized from (S)-3-benzyl-2-methyl-4-phenylbutanal according to dipyrromethane method using trifluoroacetic acid, BF3 etherate, and p-chloranil. Manganese complex of this chiral porphyrin imine ligand was used as catalyst in the asymmetric epoxidation of styrene derivatives possessing different substituents. Styrene derivatives possessing electron withdrawing groups gave the corresponding chiral epoxides in high yield up to 98% and ee up to 99%. The mechanism for the catalytic asymmetric epoxidation was also discussed based on transfer of oxygen.