Tetraarylphosphonium salt-catalyzed formal [3+2] cycloaddition between epoxides and trichloroacetonitrile for the synthesis of β-amino alcohol derivatives.

Efficient regioselective synthesis of β-amino alcohol derivatives, including enantioenriched ones, by a tetraarylphosphonium salt-catalyzed coupling reaction of epoxides with trichloroacetonitrile is described. Formal [3+2] cycloaddition, followed by hydrolysis, proceeded smoothly to afford N -protected β-amino alcohols in good yields.