Solvent-Directed Epoxide Opening with Primary Amines for the Synthesis of β-Amino Alcohols

An efficient synthesis of β-amino alcohols from a variety of epoxides and primary unbranched amines in the absence of any catalyst in high yields and regioselectivities is reported. A variety of polar mixed solvent systems allow for the selective formation of secondary amino alcohols over tertiary amino alcohols. The reaction scope extends to a wide variety of aromatic and aliphatic substituted epoxides and primary amines bearing complex functionality.