REGIO-SELECTIVE AND STEREOSELECTIVE ALCOHOLYSIS OF (R)-STYRENE OXIDE WITH BIS-TRIBUTYLTIN OXIDE AND BIS-CHLORODIBUTYLTIN OXIDE

We report herein a convenient method for the regio- and stereoselectiv e ring-opening of (R)-styrene oxide (1) by means of primary and second ary alcohols, using bis-tributyltin oxide (2) and bis-chlorodibutyltin oxide (3) as Lewis acids, in catalytic or in stoichiometric amount. T he alcoholysis of (R]-styrene oxide has been found to proceed with ver y good regio- and stereoselectivity affording the corresponding 2-alco xy-2-phenylethanol. Alcohols attacks at the benzylic position almost e xclusively.