Attempts were made at epoxidising enantioselectively some simple olefins using MoO3 (0.17 mol%), TBHP and five different chiral non-racemic 2-substituted pyridine ligands. A maximum conversion of 88% using 4-methylstyrene, and a maximum selectivity of >= 98% using 1-methylcyclohexene and 1-phenylcyclohexene were obtained. All ligands screened showed the ability to accelerate the reaction. However, it was ligand 4, that was the quickest to do so and showed the greatest acceleration. The observation of a reaction rate acceleration in the presence of such ligands appeared to indicate the formation of a Mo(VI)oxoperoxy-ligand complex. In no case was asymmetric induction observed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.