Iron(III) trifluoroacetate [Fe(O2CCF3)3] catalyzed epoxide opening with amines

Abstract

Non-hygroscopic, non-toxic, and readily available iron(III) trifluoroacetate [Fe(O2CCF3)3] was found to be a highly regioselective catalyst for the ring opening of a wide variety of epoxides with diverse amines under solvent-free conditions. The stereospecific ring opening of (R)-styrene oxide (4) with p-anisidine (2b) in the presence of 1 mol% of Fe(O2CCF3)3 gave 2-(p-methoxyphenyl- amino)-2-phenylethanol (5b) in enantiopure form (>99 % ee) within 60 minutes. ©ARKAT USA, Inc.