The enantioselective epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones utilising Cinchona alkaloid-derived quaternary ammonium phase-transfer catalysts bearing an N-anthracenylmethyl function are presented, It has been found that the O-benzyl derivatives of these catalysts in conjunction with sodium hypochlorite give high stereocontrol and application of this process to the enantioselective synthesis of a range of trans-alpha,beta-epoxy ketones (e.e. 69-89%) is presented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.