Asymmetric catalytic oxidation

Functional groups that can be prochiral and readily susceptible to oxidation include certain alkenes and thioethers.

[3] Many examples of this important reaction result from the action of cytochrome P450, which allows these enzymes to process prodrugs and xenobiotics.

[4] One named reaction is the Jacobsen epoxidation, which uses manganese-salen complex as a chiral catalyst and NaOCl as the oxidant.

The method is especially applicable to allyl alcohols using a catalyst derived from titanium isopropoxide and diethyl tartrate.

[6] The common over the counter medication Esomeprazole (brandname: Nexium) involves such an asymmetric oxidation as its final step.