Initial rate kinetic studies show an unexpected influence of para-substituents on the catalytic behaviour of manganese complexes of TMTACN in the epoxidation of styrenes with H2O2.

Investigations into the efficacy of a range of enantiomerically pure BINOL additives in the epoxidation of styrene substrates with a number of manganese catalysts prepared from the ligand 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, TMTACN, using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant have revealed that there are fundamental differences in reactivity between apparently similar systems. Whilst no asymmetric induction was obtained in the styrene oxide products formed, the data obtained from initial rate kinetic studies appear to be consistent with a number of different catalytically active species operating, the nature of which are profoundly affected by the starting materials used.