Nuclephilic ring opening of epoxides promoted by multi-site phase-transfer catalyst: An efficient and eco-friendly route to synthesis of β-hydroxy-thiocyanate

A highly effective and mild protocol for ring opening of epoxides with NH4SCN in the presence of catalytic amount of a multi-site phase-transfer catalyst, α,α′,α″-N-hexakis(triethylammoniummethylene chloride)-melamine, is developed. A variety of β-hydroxy thiocyanates as important intermediates in agricultural and pharmaceutical chemistry were obtained in high yields with excellent regioselectivity and in short reaction times.