Application of copper(I)-induced thiophenoxide removal to ring expansions or chain extensions of aldehydes and ketones. Detection, Isolation, and independent preparation of the .alpha.-epoxy thioether intermediate
Reduction of α-methylthio and α-phenylthio ketones 1 with L-Selectride gave syn-alcohols 2 in high stereoselectivity except when R1 was cyclohexyl group, while reduction with Zn(BH4)2 gave the isomeric anti-alcohols 3 provided R3 was methyl group.