A new one-pot, four-component synthesis of 1,2-amino alcohols: TiCl3/t-BuOOH-mediated radical hydroxymethylation of imines.

An amine, an aldehyde, and methanol can be readily assembled in one pot under very mild conditions through a free-radical multicomponent reaction by using an aqueous acidic TiCl3/t-BuOOH system to afford 1,2-amino alcohols in fair to excellent yields.