Dimethyldioxirane () and its trifluoro analog () were employed to achieve selectively the direct transformation of hex-3-yne-2, 5-diol and 1, 4-diphenyl-but-2yne-1, 4-diol (two representative acetylenic 1, 4-diols) into the corresponding carbonyls, leaving the carbon– carbon triple bond moiety untouched. The results are compared with those recorded in the analogous oxidation using the methyltrioxorhenium (MTO)/85% H2O2 homogeneous ...