Diastereoselective conversion of sulfides into sulfoxides. 1,5- and 1,6-asymmetric induction

Abstract

The diastereoselective oxidation of sulfides into sulfoxides has been achieved with enantiomerically pure dihydrooxazole auxiliaries. When an additional hydroxymethyl substituent is present, diastereocontrol is very high and 1,5-asymmetric induction has been achieved with up to 96 : 4 selectivity, and 1,6-asymmetric induction has been achieved with up to 97 : 3 selectivity in the absence of any additional chiral agents.