Four bis(tetrahydroisoquinoline) N,N'-dioxides were used as catalysts for the epoxide ring opening with tetrachlorosilane under various conditions. A strong solvent effect on asymmetric induction was observed for each of the used catalysts.
The highest achieved asymmetric induction for the opening of meso-stilbene oxide was 69% ee. Regarding the cycloalkene oxides, 56% ee was obtained in the reaction with cyclooctene oxide.