ASYMMETRIC OXIDATION OF KETONES1

The Ti(OiPr)4/tartaric acid diethyl ester/ t-BuOOH complex (Sharpless catalyst) was successfully used for the direct asymmetric oxidation of ketones resulting in lactones from cyclobutanones; α ,β-dihydroxy ketones from β-hydroxy ketones; alkyl lactone carboxylic acids from 3-alkylcyclopentane-1,2-diones; and spiro-γ-dilactone from 3-(2-hydroxyethyl)cyclopentane- 1,2-dione in high enantioselectivity and satisfactory yield.