Epoxidation of alkenes with different electronic and steric properties has
been performed with high selectivity by sodium periodate in the presence of
acetatotetraarylporphinatomanganese(III) complexes containing electron rel
easing or withdrawing groups at the ortho positions of the aryl rings, in a
two-phase (CH2Cl2-H2O) medium at 24 +/- 2 degrees C.