Nickel‐Catalyzed Regio‐ and Enantioselective Ring Opening of 3,4‐Epoxy Amides and Esters with Aromatic Amines

Herein we present a nickel-catalyzed regio- and enantioselective ring opening reaction of 3,4-epoxy amides and esters with aromatic amines as nucleophiles. This method features high regiocontrol, diastereospecific SN2 reaction pathway, broad substrate scope, and mild reaction conditions, furnishing a wide range of γ-amino acid derivatives in a highly enantioselective manner. Notably, the selective nucleophilic attack to the C-4 position of epoxides is controlled by the directing effect of the pendant carbonyl group.