High-valent tin(IV) porphyrin, SnIV(TPP)(BF4)2, as an efficient catalyst for the ring-opening of epoxides

The new electron deficient tin(IV)tetraphenylporphyrinato tetrafluoroborate, [SnIV(tpp)(BF4)2], was used as an efficient catalyst for the alcoholysis, hydrolysis, and acetolysis of epoxides. Conversion of epoxides to thiiranes was also performed efficiently in the presence of this catalyst. This catalyst efficiently catalyzed conversion of epoxides to 1,3-dioxolanes. The results showed that replacing of BF4- with Cl− converts the tin(IV) porphyrin to an efficient Lewis acid.