Y(NO3)3·6H2O catalyzed regioselective ring opening of epoxides with aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic amines

Yttrium nitrate hexahydrate [Y(NO3)3·6H2O] was found to be an efficient catalyst for selective ring opening of epoxides with aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic amines at room temperature under solvent-free conditions. The system tolerated a variety of hindered and functionalized epoxides/amines and afforded the desired β-amino alcohols at low catalyst concentration.