The [Cr-III. (alpha-TDL1,*)(bipy)(Cl)] (1) and [Cr-III. (TDL2*)(bipy)(Cl)] (2) complexes (where H-2,-TDL1*=N-3,5-di-(t-butyl)salicylidine-D-glucosamine, H2TDL2*=N-3,5-di-(tertiarybutyl)salicylidine-L-alanine, bipy=bipyridyl) have been synthesized and characterized by analytical, spectral (UV-vis and IR), molar conductivity, magnetic moment and electrochemical studies. Complexes 1 and 2 catalyzed the epoxidation of styrenes, stilbenes, l-methylcyclohexene and 1,2-dihydronapthalene using aqueous tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) as terminal oxidant. The selected alkenes were converted to their corresponding epoxides exhibiting moderate enantioselectivity at ambient temperature. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.