382 Chemistry Letters, 19 9 2 mixture of two diastereomers) in 96% yield. The adduct was oxidized with 3- chloroperoxybenzoic acid (MCPBA) in CH2CI2 at room temperature to afford a mixture of sulfones in 97% yield. Swern oxidation^) of the hydroxyl group of the sulfone gave oc-chloro a-sulfonyl ketone 2a quantitatively. All other ос-halo a-sulfonyl ketones used in this study were synthesized in the same way in high overall yields. cc-Chloro a-sulfonyl ketone 2a was ...