Abstract Efficient ring opening of epoxides with aromatic amines catalyzed by ZrO (OTf) 2 is reported, and the corresponding β amino (beta-amino acid) alcohols were obtained in high yields in CH3CN as solvent. The reactions were carried out at room temperature and in the presence of only 1.25 mol% of ZrO (OTf) 2. This catalyst can be reused several times without loss of its activity.
