Solvent-free conditions regioselective ring opening

The ring-opening of epoxides with amines forming p-amino alcohols (Scheme 1.5) is a final example of an epoxide reaction catalyzed by DMCs [22]. Saikia et al. found that the Lewis acid Zn + sites in Zn-Fe(II)-DMC exhibit a good catalytic activity in these reactions at near-ambient, solvent-free conditions. The DMC catalysts display a high regioselectivity for the attack of primary amines at the most hindered position of the epoxide, as illustrated by reactions of aniline or butylamine with, for example, epichlorohydrin. The intrinsic activity of the catalyst rivals with and often exceeds that of many known catalysts for this reaction. 

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