Scandium triflate as an efficient and useful catalyst for the synthesis of β-amino alcohols by regioselective ring opening of epoxides with amines under solvent-free conditions

A simple and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of β-amino alcohols by ring opening of epoxides in the presence of a catalytic amount of Sc(OTf)3 at room temperature under solvent-free conditions. The reaction works well with both aromatic and aliphatic amines. High regio-, and diastereoselectivity can be considered as a noteworthy advantage of this method.