A new two-step procedure for the synthesis of 1,4-dicarbonyls has
been developed involving an efficient and clean Mo-catalyzed oxidative cleavage of cyclobutane-1,2-diols with DMSO, which is used
as solvent and oxidant. The required starting glycols were prepared
by nucleophilic additions of organolithiums and Grignard reagents
to easily available 2-hydroxycyclobutanones.
