An economical and green approach for the oxidation of olefins to enones

A new and optimized water-based procedure for the oxidation of steroidal olefins and benzylic compounds to alpha,beta-enones, using household laundry bleach and aqueous tert-butyl hydroperoxide at sub-ambient temperature, is described. This simple methodology is not only economical but is also environmentally friendly. Issues of reactivity, selectivity and scope of the reaction were investigated with a variety of steroidal olefins and benzylic compounds.