Cleavage of epoxides into halohydrins with elemental iodine and bromine in the presence of 2,6-bis[2-(o-aminophenoxy)methyl]-4-bromo-1-methoxybenzene (BABMB) as catalyst

The ring opening of epoxides with elemental iodine and bromine in the presence of 2,6-bis[2-(o-aminophenoxy)methyl]-4-bromo-1-methoxybenzene as a new catalyst affords vicinal iodo alcohols and bromo alcohols in high yields. This new procedure occurs regioselectively under neutral and mild conditions in various aprotic solvents even when sensitive functional groups are present.