Green Protocol for the Synthesis of vicinal-Halohydrins from Oxiranes Using the [Bmim] PF6/LiX Reagent System

Epoxides undergo rapid ring-opening with lithium halides in [bmim]PF6 or [bmim]BF4 ionic liquids under mild and neutral conditions to afford the corresponding vic-halohydrins in high to quantitative yields. The epoxides show enhanced reactivity in ionic liquids thereby reducing reaction times and improving the yields significantly. The recovered ionic liquid can be reused in three to four subsequent runs with consistent activity.