[reaction: see text] N,N-Dialkyl-beta-amino alcohols derived from alpha-amino acids can be rearranged enantiospecifically by using TFAA/Et3N/NaOH to give 1,2-amino alcohols with enantiomeric excess up to 99%.
The formal total synthesis of (S,S)-reboxetine has been realized by two different approaches using a stereospecific rearrangement of β-aminoalcohols catalyzed by (CF3CO)2O.