Highly efficient alkylation of epoxides with R3Al/H2O systems based on the double activation of epoxy oxygens

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)01025-4

Alkylation of epoxides can be effected with trialkylaluminum/water system, which is much superior to the parent trialkylaluminum. Bidentate bis(dialkyl)aluminoxanes and their hypothetical analogues seem to be active species for the double activation of epoxy substrates. Such double-activation ability is emphasized using several synthetic examples in comparison with the corresponding monodentate derivatives. The double coordination complex formation of bidentate (Me₂Al)₂O is characterized with THF by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.