Abstract
A simple, efficient, and environmentally benign approach for the synthesis of beta-amino alcohols is herein described. YCl3 efficiently carried out the ring opening of epoxides by amines to produce -amino alcohols under solvent-free conditions at room temperature. This catalytic approach is very effective, with several aromatic and aliphatic oxiranes and amines. A mere 1 mol % concentration of YCl3 is enough to deliver beta-amino alcohols in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity.