Enantioselective ring opening of meso-epoxides with tetrachlorosilane catalyzed by chiral bipyridine N,N'-dioxide derivatives

An enantioselective ring opening of meso-epoxides with tetrachlorosilane in the presence of diisopropylethylamine exploiting chiral bipyridine N,N'-dioxides as catalysts affords the corresponding chlorohydrins in high enantioselectivities of up to 90% ee. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.