Synlett 2007(13): 2136-2138  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-984902
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Indium-Bipyridine Catalyzed, Enantioselective Aminolysis of meso-Epoxides

Enzo Mai, Christoph Schneider*
Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Fax: +49(341)9736599; e-Mail: schneider@chemie.uni-leipzig.de;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 11 April 2007
Publication Date:
17 July 2007 (online)

Abstract

The enantioselective aminolysis of meso-epoxides is efficiently catalyzed by an indium(III)-bipyridine catalyst to furnish highly enantiomerically enriched 1,2-amino alcohols in good yields and up to 98% ee.

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We have made the same observation in the related indium(III)-bipyridine 2a catalyzed thiolysis of meso-epoxides (ref. 9).

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Typical Experimental Procedure
In an oven-dried flask and under inert atmosphere In(OTf)3 (28 mg, 0.05 mmol) and bipyridine 2a (20 mg, 0.05 mmol) were dissolved in CH2Cl2 (1 mL) and treated with epoxide (0.50 mmol) and amine (1.00 mmol) at r.t. The reaction mixture was stirred for 48 h at r.t. whereupon it was concentrated in vacuo and purified by silica gel chromatography. For analytical and spectroscopic details of the products, see ref. 8b.