Salen (Mn)-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins. High enantioselectivities and yields are obtained for a variety of substrates,especially cis-alkenes. Some applications include the synthesis of the taxol side chain and cis-1-amino-2-indanol. Jacobsen‘s catalyst has also been used in the asymmetric å-hydroxylation of silyl enol ethers. A catalyst for the enantioselective epoxidation of a variety of olefins.