Catalyst-free highly regio- and stereoselective ring opening of epoxides and aziridines with sodium azide using poly(ethylene glycol) as an efficient reaction medium

Ring opening of epoxides and aziridines has readily been carried out at room temperature using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG400) as the efficient reaction medium to form the corresponding 2-azido alcohols and 2-azido amines, respectively in excellent yields (95-99%) within 30-45 minutes and with high regio- and streoselectivity.