Synthesis of 2,2-Disubstituted Oxetanes from Ketones with Sulfur Ylides

Significance

In their ongoing research in the field of rare earth heterobimetallic catalysis, the Shibasaki group has published an extension of their previous work on the addition of an ylide to ketones. In this report they combine their previously obtained epoxide product and again subject it to the reaction conditions to furnish a 2,2-disubstituted oxetane.