Highly efficient alkene epoxidation and aziridination catalyzed by iron(II) salt + 4,4',4''-trichloro-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine/4,4''-dichloro-4'-O-PEG-OCH3-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine.

"Iron(II) salt + 4,4',4''-trichloro-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine" is an effective catalyst for epoxidation and aziridination of alkenes and intramolecular amidation of sulfamate esters. The epoxidation of allylic-substituted cycloalkenes achieved excellent diastereoselectivities up to 90%. ESI-MS results supported the formation of iron-oxo and -imido intermediates.

Ruthenium-catalyzed one-pot carbenoid N-H insertion reactions and diastereoselective synthesis of prolines.

Aryl- and aliphatic-substituted 3-hydroxyprolines and various other amino esters are conveniently prepared by [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2-catalyzed one-pot intramolecular and intermolecular carbenoid N-H insertion reactions, respectively, and the prolines are formed with high diastereoselectivities. The catalytic reactions are tolerant toward air/moisture, and the product yields are insensitive to the organic solvents used.