InCl3-catalyzed regioselective ring-opening reactions of epoxides to β-hydroxy ethers

Abstract

By applying a catalytic amount of indium trichloride, regioselective ring-opening of epoxides to β-hydroxy ethers was established. While the alcoholysis of styrene oxides produced SA1-type product, the alcoholysis of α-heteroatom-subsfituted epoxides predominantly produced SN2-type product.