The effect of microwaves on the kinetics and the selectivity of the Cr(salen)-catalysed asymmetric ring opening of epoxides was investigated. it was found that the reaction rate of the Cr(salen)-catalysed kinetic resolution of terminal epoxides and the asymmetric ring opening (ARO) of meso-epoxides could be increased by three orders of magnitude without impairing the selectivity. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.