Novel α-tosyloxylation of ketones catalyzed by the in situ generated hypoiodous acid from alkyl iodide

Using a catalytic amount of 1-iodopropane, a novel and efficient procedure has been developed for direct preparation of α-tosyloxyketones from ketones. In this protocol, 1-iodopropane is first oxidized into iodosylpropane, which decomposes to form the key catalyst hypoiodous acid. With this method, not only α-tosyloxyketones, but also other α-sulfonyloxyketones have been prepared in moderate to good yields, which extends the application of alkyl substituted hypervalent iodine reagents in organic synthesis.