Fluorinated alcohols: Powerful promoters for ring-opening reactions of epoxides with carbon nucleophiles

Abstract

Ring-opening reactions of epoxides with carbon nucleophiles are valuable transformations for constructing functionalized carbon-carbon bonds. Epoxide ring-opening methods typically require Lewis acidic additives and/or strong nucleophiles to overcome the activation barrier for these reactions. Fluorinated alcohol solvents present a desirable alternative, enhancing the efficacy of these reactions with weak and neutral carbon nucleophiles by promoting electrophilic activation of the epoxide. We present here a thorough review of the literature regarding epoxide ring-opening reactions with carbon nucleophiles in fluorinated alcohol solvents, concluding with a few recent examples with aziridines.