Enantioselective Oxidation of Thioethers1 - An Easy Route To Enantiopure C-2 Symmetrical Bis-methylsulfinylbenzenes

The direct oxidation of bis-methylthioethers 1 by t-butyl hydroperoxide, titanium tetra-iso-propilate, and (+)-diethyltartrate, affords the almost enantiomerically pure dl bis-methylsulfinylbenzenes 2 (e.e. greater-than-or-equal-to 99%) in a process which is also characterized by a very high diastereoselectivity