Hydroxyapatite Nanorods Supported Boron Trifluoride: An Efficient, Reusable and Eco-friendly Heterogeneous Catalyst for Ring Opening of α-Epoxyketones

Boron trifluoride supported on hydroxyapatite nanorods efficiently catalyzed the ring opening reaction of α- epoxyketones in methanol solution to afford the corresponding α-hydroxy-β-methoxyketones through Cβ –O bond cleavage in excellent yields at room temperature. The type and position of the additional substituent affect not only the rate of ring opening but also the diastereomeric ratios products.