Green organocatalytic α-hydroxylation of ketones

An efficient and green method for the α-hydroxylation of substituted ketones has been developed. This method includes the in situ conversion of various ketones into the corresponding silyl enol ethers and their oxidation to the corresponding α-hydroxy ketones. Two protocols have been established leading either to protected α-hydroxy carbonyls or free α-hydroxy ketones. Both procedures are easy to follow and lead to good to high yields for a variety of ketones.