Catalytic enantioselective oxidation of sulfides and disulfides by a chiral complex of bis-hydroxamic acid and molybdenum

A chiral bis-hydroxamic acid (BHA)-molybdenum complex was used for the catalytic asymmetric oxidation of sulfides and disulfides utilizing one equivalent of alkyl peroxide with yields up to 83% and ee up to 86%. An extension of our methodology combines the asymmetric oxidation with kinetic resolution providing excellent enantioselectivity (ee 92–99%).

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