Catalytic Enantioselective α-Oxysulfonylation of Ketones Mediated by Iodoarenes

The alpha-oxysulfonylation of ketones catalysed by enantio enriched iodoarenes using mCPBA as stoichiometric oxidant is reported to give useful synthetic intermediates in good yield and modest enantioselectivity. We believe this to be the first report of an enantioselective organocatalytic reaction involving hypervalent iodine reagents which should open up a new field for enantioselective organocatalysis of oxidation reactions. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)