A study of the osmium-catalyzed dihydroxylation of various olefins using air as the stoichiometric oxidant is described. Dihydroxylation takes place smoothly at an air pressure of 20 bar, at 50 degreesC and pH 10.4. in the presence of dihydroquinine or dihydroquinidine derivatives (Sharpless ligands) asymmetric dihydroxylations occur with only slightly lower enantioselectivities compared to the classical K-3[Fe(CN)(6)] reoxidation system. In the case of stilbene the solvent system is crucial in determining the chemoselectivity of the reaction. The first example of a selective metal catalyzed oxidative cleavage of an olefin with air to give aldehydes is presented. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.