Eu(OTf)3-catalyzed highly regioselective nucleophilic ring opening of 2,3-epoxy alcohols: an efficient entry to 3-substituted 1,2-diol derivatives.

In our study of the total synthesis of (+)-irciniastatin A, we found a need to develop a method that enables a C3-selective nucleophilic ring opening of 2,3-epoxy alcohol by MeOH, by which we found that the use of combined catalytic amounts of Eu(OTf)3 and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine (DTBMP) enables the intended transformation to obtain 3-methoxy-1,2-diol efficiently. Promising features of a protocol that effects a highly regioselective nucleophilic ring opening of 2,3- and 3,4-epoxy alcohols using various nucleophiles including alcohols, thiols, and unprotected amines are described.