and related reagents e g dimethylsulfide activated with n chlorosuccinimide as described in tidwell synthesis 1990 857 870 and modifications thereof the oxidation can also be carried out using dess martin reagent manganese chromium or selenium reagents tertiary amine oxides or via radical oxidation procedures using for example catalytic amounts of tempo in combination with inexpensive co oxidants such as naocl preferably dmso is used in combination with a number of activating agents comprising oxalyl chloride so 3 pyridine dcc edc hcl trifluoroacetic anhydride most preferably dmso in combination with oxalyl chloride is used such dmso mediated oxidation reactions are commonly performed in the presence of a base such as tertiary alkylamines preferred bases for the invention are triethylamine and h u00fcnig 39 s base most preferably h u00fcnig 39 s base is used commonly the reaction is carried out in the presence of an organic solvent such as dichloromethane dcm acetone or thf it is preferred to use dcm as solvent usually dmso is used in an over stoichiometric amount sometimes dmso is also used as solvent it is preferred to use 1 0 20 0 eq of dmso more preferably 2 0 10 eq and most preferably 3 0 4 0 eq of dmso are used usually also the activating agent is used in an over stoichiometric amount it is preferred to use 1 0 10 0 eq of oxalyl chloride more preferably 1 0 5.