Ring opening reactions of quinoline substituted epoxides

6-Oxiranyl- and 3-oxiranyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid diisopropylamides react with secondary amines and lithium amides to give (aminohydroxyethyl)quinolines but with opposite regioselectivities. Upon epoxidation of 3-formylquinoline 2 a ∼5:1 mixture of atropisomers is formed. This ratio is maintained upon epoxide ring-opening with amines in ethanol at reflux, but with lithium amides at room temperature a 1.3:1 ratio of isomers is obtained.