A new efficient catalytic system was investigated for the epoxidation of various olefins by cis-dioxo-bis[2(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-oxazolinato]molybdenum(VI), cis-[ MoO(2)(phox)(2)], and TBHP as oxidizing agent. Using this system as catalyst for the oxidation of aliphatic substrates at 80 degrees C gives the epoxide as the sole product with yields up to 100% and turnover frequency up to 5000 h(-1). The efficiency of the catalyst is strongly influenced by the nature of solvent, reaction time and temperature, and a significant increase in the epoxide yields is observed in higher temperatures and longer reaction times. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.