Catalytic enantioselective epoxidation of tertiary allylic and homoallylic alcohols.

An efficient and versatile method for the enantioselective epoxidation of both tertiary allylic and homoallylic alcohols catalyzed by Hf(IV)-bishydroxamic acid (BHA) complexes is described. Asymmetric epoxidation, kinetic resolution, and desymmetrization have been developed, demonstrating the flexible nature of the Hf(IV)-BHA system. This is the first report in which these substrates were obtained with enantioselectivities of up to 99%.