[reaction: see text] Lanthanide iodo binaphtholates are efficient enantioselective catalysts for the ring opening of meso-epoxides by various aromatic amines. The study of the influence of temperature on the ring opening of cyclohexene oxide by o-anisidine catalyzed by the samarium complex shows an isoinversion effect with the maximum enantiomeric excess at -40 degrees C. Reactions of aniline, o-anisidine, or p-anisidine with five- or six-membered ring epoxides at this temperature allow the preparation of beta-amino alcohols with enantiomeric excesses up to 93%.

This Perspective article provides an overview of the recent advancements in the field of intra- and inter-molecular C-N, C-O and C-P bond formation by hydroamination, hydroalkoxylation, hydrophosphination, hydrophosphonylation or hydrophosphinylation of unactivated alkenes, including allenes, 1,3-dienes and strained alkenes, promoted by (chiral) homogeneous catalysts based on earth abundant elements of the s and p blocks, the first row transition metals and the rare-earth metals. The relevant literature from 2009 until late 2014 has been covered.