Zinc catalysis nucleophilic substitution

The same differential behavior can be observed with amine nucleophiles. For example, calcium triflate promotes the aminolysis of propene oxide 84 with benzylamine to give 1-(A -benzyl)amino-2-propanol 85, the result of attack at the less substituted site <03T2435>, and which is also seen in the solventless reaction of epoxides with heterocyclic amines under the catalysis of ytterbium(III) triflate <03SC2989>. Conversely, zinc chloride directs the attack of aniline on styrene oxide 34 at the more substituted carbon center <03TL6026>. A ruthenium catalyst in the presence of tin chloride also results in an SNl-type substitution behavior with aniline derivatives (e.g., 88), but further provides for subsequent cyclization of the intermediate amino alcohol, thus representing an interesting synthesis of 2-substituted indoles (e.g., 89) <03TL2975>. 

---