Oxirane openings reaction selectivity with

Oxiranes undergo ring-opening with cerium(VI) ammonium nitrate and an excess of a quaternary ammonium halide to yield haloethanols [34], The reaction occurs with high regio- and stereo-selectivity, for example, / (+)-styrene oxide produces S(+)-2-chloro-2-phenylethanol in 85% yield with 96% ee. 

In the oxirane ring opening reaction (Eq. (2)), it is possible to prepare the ketone 5, the acetonide 10, and the allylic alcohol 11 selectively by controlling the reactivity of the intermediate carbenium ion 12 under some specified reaction conditions. In order to prepare 5 preferentially, a high concentration of perchlorate ion must be employed in CH2CI2, ClCHjCH Cl, or THF. In this system, an incipient carbenium ion 12 would be associated with perchlorate ion and stabilized so that the deprotona-... 

The mechanisms and the regio- and stereo-selectivity of epoxide reactions have been reviewed.39 The review also covers the role of epoxides in biologically important reactions. The achiral and chiral catalysts used in these reactions are discussed. A second review40 discusses the ring-opening reactions of oxiranes with carbon nucleophiles. 

Kinetic analysis of the ring-opening reactions of methylthiiran and methyl-oxiran with Bu"2NH in mixed solvents containing DMSO has been reported. Methylthiiran was more reactive under these conditions, owing to the selective solvation of thiolate anions in DMSO in the transition state. 

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of polyesters from cyclic anhydrides and oxi-ranes was reported. The polymerization took place by PPL catalyst and the molecular weight reached 1 x 10" under the selected reaction conditions. During the polymerizahon, the enzymatically formed acid group from the anhydride may open the oxirane ring to give a glycol, which is then reacted with the anhydride or acid by lipase catalysis, yielding the polyesters. 

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