Domino Two-Step Oxidation of β-Alkoxy Alcohols to Hemiacetal Esters: Linking a Stoichiometric Step to an Organocatalytic Step with a Common Organic Oxidant

Primary and secondary β-alkoxy alcohols can be cleanly and efficiently oxidized into hemiacetal esters in a cascade two-step process. mCPBA serves both as a stoichiometric oxidant in the first TEMPO-catalyzed step, converting alcohols to aldehydes/ketones, and as a reagent in the second Baeyer–Villiger stoichiometric oxidation, transforming the aldehydes/ketones into hemiacetal esters. The use of an oxidant common to both steps enables the domino reaction to proceed under a single experimental setting. Longer oxidative cascade sequences are possible when this new methodology is applied to suitable substrates.