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

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.