The base-free chemoselective ring opening of epoxides with carboxylic acids using [bmim]Br: a rapid entry into 1,2-diol mono-esters synthesis.

A facile and highly convenient base-free protocol for the chemoselective preparation of 1,2-diol mono-esters is described. In this method, the regioselective ring opening of epoxides with carboxylic acids in the presence of [bmim]Br furnishes the corresponding 1,2-diol mono-esters in excellent yields. This method is efficient for various structurally diverse epoxides and carboxylic acids and it can be efficiently applied for the scale up synthesis of 1,2-diol mono-esters in reasonable to good yields. [bmim]Br remarkably influences the reaction progress and acts as both solvent and catalyst in this protocol.