Enantioselective Oxidation of Sulfinic Acid Esters with the Aid of a Microorganism

Incubation of racemic arenesulfinic acid esters with a bacterial strain gave the corresponding sulfonates leaving behind optically active sulfinates via enantioselective oxidation. The substrates having longer alkyl chains as alcohol component were smoothly oxidized, and electron donating substituents on aromatic ring accelerated the reaction.