Jacobsen epoxidation

The Jacobsen Epoxidation is a chemical reaction which allows enantioselective synthesis of epoxides from isolated alkenes. It is complementary to the Sharpless epoxidation (used to form epoxides from the double bond in allylic alcohols). The Jacobsen epoxidation gains its stereoselectivity from a C2 symmetric manganese(III) salen complex, which is used in catalytic amounts. The reaction is named after its creator, Eric Jacobsen of Harvard University.

Several improved procedures have been developed.