Syntheses of DL-threo-thiamphenicol via green oxidation

Four methyl aryl thioethers related to thiamphenicol syntheses and methyl phenyl sulfide were cleanly oxidized into methyl sulfones in high to excellent yields via catalytic green oxidation with aqueous hydrogen peroxide in combination with sodium tungstate. When the same reactions were similarly performed in the absence of the catalyst, the corresponding sulfoxides could be obtained. This viable synthetic approach for the synthesis of DL-threo-thiamphenicol is a simple procedure, which has an economic advantage in view of its application for the large-scale synthesis because it can be carried out under mild conditions.