Fluoroboric acid adsorbed on silica gel catalyzed regioselective ring opening of epoxides with nitrogen heterocycles

Aryl epoxides can be opened in a regioselective and efficient manner with nitrogen heterocycles such as indoles, pyrroles and imidazoles in the presence of a catalytic amount of HBF4–SiO2 under mild conditions to afford the corresponding C-alkylated derivatives in good yields and with a high regioselectivity.