A very efficient and highly regioselective ring-opening reaction of epoxides with benzoic acid and its derivatives in the presence of cat. amount of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) in anhydrous acetonitrile has been developed. This effective method is useful for the preparation of selectively protected diols as precursor for many organic syntheses such as those of acyclic nucleosides and other synthetic purposes. The advantages of this method are efficiency, selectivity, low cost, and the applicability in large-scale synthesis of b-benzoyloxyalkanols.
benzoylated 1,2-diol - benzoic acid - epoxides - acetonitrile - TBAB