Salen ligands derived from trans-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-cyclohexanediamine: preparation and application in oxo-chromium salen mediated asymmetric epoxidation of alkenes

Stoichiometric asymmetric epoxidation of E-β-methylstyrene with novel cationic chromium-salen oxo complexes derived from 1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diaminocyclohexane was studied. The epoxidation results, mass spectrometry of the complexes and a single crystal X-ray crystallographic study of one of the salen ligands suggests the intervention of multiple oxidising species in the reaction.