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.