Direct oxidative cleavage of α- and β-dicarbonyls and α-hydroxyketones to diesters with KHSO5

Presented is a methodology to oxidatively cleave α-hydroxyketones and α- or β-diones using the environmentally benign reagent KHSO5, prepared easily from Oxone, to diesters in one simple transformation. In addition, we undertook a mechanistic study to provide a plausible mechanistic interpretation. These reactions may prove to be valuable alternatives to other related metal-mediated processes.