On the Viability of Oxametallacyclic Intermediates in the (salen)Mn‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Epoxidation

A mechanism that is simpler than the recently advanced is followed for the (salen)Mn-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of olefins. Oxametallacycles such as B or B′ are not viable intermediates; radical species such as A, which are directly formed by attack of the olefin on the oxomanganese catalyst are more likely candidates; salen  N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine dianion.