Well-confined polyoxometalate-ionic liquid in silicic framework for environmentally friendly asymmetric di-hydroxylation of olefins.

Chiral 1,2-diols with a high yield could be directly prepared from asymmetric di-hydroxylation of olefins via an eco-friendly and enduring catalyst, in which abundant "chiral pools" of polyoxometalate-ionic liquid were target-designed into the silicic framework (POM-ILS) and well stabilized in aqueous media.