Radical couplings of epoxides and nitriles mediated by Cp2TiCl provide a diastereoselective route to the synthesis of beta-hydroxyketones. The conditions of this "aldol-like" reaction are mild enough to avoid the dehydration of the beta-hydroxyketone. The scope of the coupling reaction with functionalized and tetrasubstituted epoxides has been studied. The radical character of the coupling reactions is demonstrated.
Buchta,E.; Andree,F., Justus Liebigs Annalen der Chemie, 1961, vol. 639, p. 9 - 24