Kinetic separation of trans-limonene oxide and trans-carvomenthene oxide was achieved in high yield by selective ring opening of their cis-epoxides in the presence of InCl₃ catalyst in water. Catalytic activity of InCl₃ was conserved up to 10 cycles. Nucleophilic addition of methanol in presence of InCl₃ was also selective as cis-epoxides preferentially reacted leaving behind trans-epoxides, which were separated by fractional distillation.