Ring Opening of Epoxides

Summary

• Grignard reagents, organolithiums or acetylides (all C nucleophiles) react with epoxides to give alcohols.
• The reactions are essentially S_N2 reactions.
• Ring strain makes epoxides more reactive than simple ethers.
• Epoxide chemistry will be discussed more in Chapter 16.

Question:
Lithium aluminum hydride, LiAlH₄ reacts as a source of nucleophilic H, what would the product of the reaction of  LiAlH₄  with ethylene oxide ? 

Related Reactions

• Reaction of RLi and RMgX with aldehydes and ketones
• Reaction of RLi and RMgX with esters
• Reaction of RLi and RMgX with carbon dioxide