Modified Montmorillonite clay catalyzed regioselective ring opening of epoxide with amines and alcohols under solvent free conditions

Modification of Montmorillonite by acid treatment depletes the layered structure and generates micro- and mesopores. The catalytic activity of naturally occurring Montmorillonite clay modified by acid treatment is reported for the reactions of epoxides with nucleophiles such as amines and alcohols at ambient temperature and solvent-free condition. The solid acid catalyst of the present study is reusable and exhibits significantly higher catalytic activities than known catalysts for the opening of the oxirane ring with nitrogen (aromatic as well as aliphatic amines) and oxygen (aromatic as well as aliphatic alcohols). A wide range of beta-amino alcohols and beta-alkoxy alcohols are synthesized with high epoxide conversion of excellent regioselectivity. The modified catalyst is recycled up to five times without significant loss in conversion and selectivity. (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.