Micellar media for the efficient ring opening of epoxides with CN-, N3-, NO3-, NO2-, SCN-, Cl- and Br- catalyzed with Ce(OTf)4

Micellar media are introduced for the efficient ring opening of epoxides with sodium salts of nucleophiles such as CN-, N3-, NO3-, NO2-, SCN-, Br- and Cl-, catalyzed with Ce(OTf)4. This method is an efficient procedure for the synthesis of different beta-substituted alcohols under mild reaction conditions. The reaction with SCN- is an easy procedure for the high yielding preparation of epoxy sulfides.