Polyleucine catalyzes the asymmetric epoxidation of enone (1) in a non-aqueous medium to provide epoxy-ketones (2) and (3) (81 and 84% yields respectively; >98% ee). The epoxy-ketones (2) and (3) are subsequently cyclized to give 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-4-quinolones (4) and (5) respectively, (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.