N-Fluorobenzenaminium tetrafluoroborate generated in situ by aniline and Selectfluor as a reusable catalyst for the ring opening of epoxides with amines under microwave irradiation

Abstract

The ring opening of epoxides with aromatic and aliphatic amines was carried out under solvent free conditions using N-fluorobenzenaminium tetrafluoroborate (2 mol%) generated in situ by the reaction of aniline and Selectfluor as a catalyst with microwave irradiation. Excellent yields of β-amino alcohols were obtained. The catalyst also results in the retention of the stereochemistry for the ring opening of enantiopure epoxide with amine. The catalyst was recovered and reused up to 4 cycles for the ring opening of cyclohexene oxide with aniline.