A General and Efficient Method for the Selective Synthesis of β-Hydroxy Sulfides and β-Hydroxy Sulfoxides Catalyzed by Gallium(III) Triflate

Gallium(III) triflate-catalyzed ring opening of epoxides
affords β-hydroxy sulfides with high regioselectivity and
chemoselectivity in high yields (84−97%) under solvent-free conditions. Additionally, a simple, efficient, and environmentally benign one-pot procedure for the synthesis of
β-hydroxy sulfoxides in sole water has been developed for
the first time. The process, promoted by a H2O2−Ga(OTf)3
system, affords β-hydroxy sulfoxides in high yields (81−94%) and high chemoselectivity without any detectable
overoxidation to β-hydroxy sulfones. The catalyst could be
recovered easily after the reactions and reused without
evident loss of activity.