Four nitrile ligated aluminum-based Lewis acids PhCNAl(OC(CF3)(2)PhCH3)(3) (1), CH3CNAl(OC(CF3)(2) PhCH3)(3) (2), PhCNAl(OC(CF3)(2)Ph)(3) (3), CH3CNAl(OC(CF3)(2)Ph)(3) (4) were synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy, as well as X-ray crystallography. The ring-opening reactions of epoxides with aromatic/aliphatic amines were efficiently catalyzed by compounds 1-4 as catalysts in a concentration of 1 mol% under solvent-free conditions at room temperature, affording 2-amino alcohols in high yields (up to 99%) within 4h. Compound 1, being the best catalyst, yields 70% product within 10 min. (C) Published by Elsevier B.V.