The combination of Fe(OTf(2)) and novel phenanthroline ligands enables the catalytic asymmetric epwddation of acyclic beta,beta-disubstituted enones, which have been a heretofore inaccessible substrate class. The reaction provides highly enantioenriched alpha,beta-epoxyketones (up to 92% ee) that can be further converted to functionalized beta-ketoaldehydes with an all-carbon quaternary center.