Highly Regio- and Stereodivergent Access to 1,2-Amino Alcohols or 1,4-Fluoro Alcohols by NHC-Catalyzed Ring Opening of Epoxy enals.

Described is an unprecedented NHC-catalyzed (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene), stereoselective ring opening of epoxy and cyclopropyl enals to deliver valuable compounds bearing multiple stereocenters. A straightforward three-step procedure involving two catalytic enantioselective transformations has been developed and leads to a regio- and stereodivergent synthesis of either 1,2-amino alcohols/diamines or 1,4-fluoro alcohols with excellent diastereo- and enantiopurity.