Highly efficient and versatile chemoselective addition of amines to epoxides in water catalyzed by erbium(III) triflate

Er(OTf)(3) is proposed as a highly efficient and reusable catalyst for the opening of epoxides in water with aliphatic as well as aromatic amines leading to the synthesis of beta-amino alcohols. The aqueous conditions employed in the present method will make it 'environmentally friendly' and potentially useful for industrial applications. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.