| Abstract
| - The carbonylative opening of terminal epoxides under mild conditions has been developed using Co2(CO)8 as the catalyst. Under 1 atm of carbon monoxide and at room temperature in methanol, propyleneoxide is converted to methyl 3-hydroxybutanoate in up to 89% yield. This transformation is general formany terminal epoxides bearing alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkoxy, chloromethyl, phthalimido, and acetalfunctional groups. The opening takes place without epimerization at the secondary stereocenter.
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