Asymmetric reactions

[uemura]

May bee of interest for the more theroetical bees...

http://www.bias-net.com/chimica/pdf/chi_dic_stwgurjar.pdf

contains a review divided into the following parts:
- asymmetric oxidation;
- asymmetric hydroboration;
- asymmetric isomerisation;
- asymmetric hydrocyanation;
- asymmetric aldol.

Carpe Die,

[Chromic]

These reactions are amazing and so applicable to our area of interest, but unfortunately the catalysts are all but impossible to find outside of industry and academia, and nearly impossible to synthesize from readily available chemicals.  

Good read tho!

[Rhodium]

There was a synthesis of Jacobsen's catalyst in Journal of Chemical Education recently, and it was directed towards undergraduate students, and it did not seem too hard.

[Chromic]

Rhod, this synthesis looks relatively challenging (not so much the chemistry, but the chemical acquisition).

https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_docs/000239698-file_qtrm.gif" title="View this image">

Btw, will manganese acetate act as catalyst for epoxide formation? Or, are there any other more simple ligands which can be used that are not enantioselective?

[Osmium]

> are there any other more simple ligands which can be used
> that are not enantioselective?

Probably not quite what you asked for, but do a search for Sharpless epoxidation, which was one of the breakthroughs in enantioselective synthesis.

http://www.scripps.edu/news/press/012100.html

http://www.monomerchem.com/sharplessepoxidation.html