Novel oxidative alpha-tosyloxylation of alcohols with iodosylbenzene and p-toluenesulfonic acid and its synthetic use for direct preparation of heteroaromatics.

alpha-Tosyloxyketones and alpha-tosyloxyaldehydes were directly prepared from alcohols by treatment with iodosylbenzene and p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate in good yields. This method can be used for the direct preparation of thiazoles, imidazoles, and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from alcohols in good to moderate yields by the successive treatment with iodosylbenzene and p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate, followed by thioamides, benzamidine, and 2-aminopyridine, respectively.