Direct construction of 1,3-diaxial diol derivatives by C-H hydroxylation.

Direct hydroxylation of tertiary C-H bonds for construction of 1,3-diaxial diol derivatives was achieved by devising a new detachable dioxirane precursor containing a trifluoromethyl ketone moiety and ethylene tether. Oxone treatment of the ketones led to the corresponding dioxiranes, enabling hydroxy group installment into cyclohexane and steroid derivatives in a regio- and stereoselective manner through intramolecular oxygen insertion.