A powerful, practical and chemoselective synthesis of 2-anilinoalkanols catalyzed by Bi(TFA)3 or Bi(OTf)3 in the presence of molten TBAB

A facile and efficient synthesis of β-amino alcohols by ring opening of epoxides with anilines in good to excellent yields in the presence of catalytic amounts of Bi(TFA) 3 or Bi(OTf) 3 via the use of molten tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as an ionic liquid is described. In addition, the observed chemoselectivity can be considered as a noteworthy advantage of this method.