Identify the major product of the following reaction:

Step-by-step solution

The reaction involves the acid-catalyzed ring opening of an epoxide by a nitrile (a Ritter-type reaction) to form an oxazoline ring. The Lewis acid BF ₃ coordinates to the epoxide oxygen, activating the ring for nucleophilic attack. The nucleophile, acetonitrile ( MeCN ), attacks the epoxide. Under acidic conditions, the attack occurs at the carbon atom that can better stabilize a partial positive charge in the transition state. The epoxide has two carbons: C2 is attached to an electron-withdrawing - CONH ₂ group,