Highly enantioselective oxidation of aryl benzyl sulfides

Enantiopure aryl benzyl sulfoxides were easily obtained by an enantioselective oxidation of the corresponding sulfides with tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of a complex between titanium and (S, S)-or (R, R)-hydrobenzoin. Theoretical and experimental investigations confirmed that these aryl benzyl sulfides represent an ideal substrate for the asymmetric oxidation system. Copyright © Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.