Tertiary amines as highly efficient catalysts in the ring-opening reactions of epoxides with amines or thiols in H2O: expeditious approach to β-amino alcohols and β-aminothioethers

Ring-opening of epoxides with various amines or thiols catalyzed by DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclic[2,2,2]octane) or Et3N (1 mol%) in water afforded the corresponding products in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions.