Catalytic Asymmetric Oxidation of Aryl Methyl Sulfides Mediated by a ( S,S)‐1,2‐Diphenylethan‐1,2‐diol/Titanium/Water Complex.

Abstract The asymmetric oxidation of aryl methyl sulfides to sulfoxides with hydroperoxides has been achieved using catalytic amounts of the complex formed in situ between Ti( i -PrO) 4 , ( S , S )-diphenylethan-1,2-diol 1 and water. The sulfoxides are obtained in 60% yield and 67–80% enantiomeric excess.