Enantioselective epoxidation reactions of some chosen reactive alkenes by a chiral Mn(III) salen catalyst were performed in H₂O employing H₂O₂ as oxidant and diethyltetradecylamine N-oxide (AOE-14) as surfactant. This procedure represents an environmentally benign protocol which leads to e.e. values ranging from good to excellent (up to 95%).
Keywords: enantioselectivity; epoxidation; hydrogen peroxide; jacobsen catalyst; water.