Monomeric organomolybdenum carbonyl complexes of general formula [(eta(5)-C5R5)Mo(CO)(3)X] (R = H, CH3, CH2Ph: X = alkyl, halide) are known to be pre-catalysts for olefin epoxidation. In this work, the application of a fluorinated complex, [CpMo(CO)(3)CF3](Cp = eta(5)-C5H5), is reported. With hexafluoroisopropanol as a solvent, a turnover frequency (TOF) of >6300 h(-1) was achieved in the epoxidation of cyclooctene with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as oxidant. So far, only ansa compounds of formula [Mo(eta(5)-C5H4(CH(CH2)(n))-eta(1)-CH)(CO)(3)] are known to deliver better performances in catalytic epoxidation reactions at room temperature. [CpMo(CO)(3)CF3] was also applied in 2-phase catalytic epoxidation reactions. The high stability of the oxidised species allows catalyst recycling for multiple catalytic runs without significant loss of activity. Besides, the fluorinated complex enables - at this stage preliminary - mechanistic F-19 NMR studies, indicating the nature of the catalytically active Mo-species, which has been an unresolved subject for some time. (c) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V.