Trifluoromethyl substituted N-phosphinoyloxaziridines: organic oxidants with enhanced reactivity

New N-phosphinoyloxaziridines containing a trifluoromethyl group at the 3-position are reported. Comparative studies of the rate of oxidation of methyl phenyl sulphoxide to methyl phenyl sulphone indicate that the presence of the CF3 group greatly enhances the oxidising power of N-phosphinoyl (and N-sulphonyl) oxaziridines.