Oxidation of the more substituted regioisomer of the enolsilylether of a methyl sec-alkyl ketone with 2 equiv of m-chloroperbenzoic acid in the presence of KHCO3 gives, after acidic workup, an α,α′-dihydroxylated ketone in high yield. Applications to the synthesis of adrenal hormones and an anthracycline model compound are also described.