Abstract A general and highly efficient method was developed for the synthesis of α-keto esters by oxidative esterification of 2, 2-dibromo-1-(het) arylethanones by sequential treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide and an alkanol. The versatility of the reaction was established by synthesizing a range of α-keto esters by treatment of 2, 2-dibromoethanones, derived from aryl or hetaryl ketones, with dimethyl sulfoxide and a cyclic or acyclic primary ...