Rubottom Oxidation

In 1974, G.M. Rubottom, A.G. Brook, and A. Hassner independently created a method to prepare alpha-hydroxy aldehydes and ketones through the oxidation of their silyl enol ethers using meta-chloro peroxy benzoic acid (mCPBA). Today, the peroxyacid oxidation of silyl enol ether substrates to prepare the corresponding alpha-hydroxy carbonyl compounds is known as the Rubottom oxidation. Synthesis of the potent anti-thrombotic (+/-)rishirilide B utilized the Rubottom oxidation, as did the synthesis of the antitumor antibiotic FR901464.