Sulphated yttria–zirconia as a regioselective catalyst system for the alcoholysis of epoxides

Abstract

It has been reported that sulphated yttria–zirconia efficiently catalysed the epoxide ring opening with a variety of alcohols under solvent free conditions to give corresponding β-alkoxy alcohols. In most of the cases reaction of epoxides with 1°, 2° and 3° alcohols in the presence of catalytic amounts of SO₄²⁻/Y_xZr_1−xO₂ gives exclusively one regioisomer with excellent yields. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM/EDAX, total acidity and TGA. The protocol is highly efficient, regioselective, atom economical, greener and applicable for a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic epoxides and alcohols with excellent yields of the corresponding β-alkoxy alcohols. The catalysts show reusability for up to four consecutive catalytic cycles without any significant loss of catalytic activity.