A new attempt of utilizing solid acids and bases for ring opening of epoxides with Me 3 SiCN was investigated. Solid strong bases such as calcium oxide and magnesium oxide catalyzed the regio-and chemoselective ring opening of epoxides with Me 3 SiCN much more effectively than homogeneous catalysts. On CaO and MgO, the reactions of unsymmetrical epoxides with Me 3 SiCN afforded 3-trimethylsiloxyalkanenitriles in high yields through ...