Menthyl -p-tolylsulfinate

Enantlomerically pure (R)-(+)-methyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, prepared from (-)-menthyl p-tolylsulfinate,3 4 was described with the following specific rotations [a]g +145.5° (acetone),3 [a]g5 +168° (acetone, e 1.8), [a]g +189° (CHClj, a 1). The submitters checked a sample prepared3,4 and kindly provided by Professor G. Solladle (Strasbourg), which was recrystal 11zed from hexane [a]g +146° + 1 (acetone, e 1), mp 76-77°C. HPLC analysis carried out on a chiral stationary phase shows the absence of the enantiomer (Dr. Tambute, private communication). The same analysis shows that the product obtained by the procedure described above is of 99.5% ee. 

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