Selective reaction of amino acid sulfoximines with nitrous acid; facile stereospecific conversion to amino acid sulfoxides

N-Unsubstituted sulfoximines of amino acids can he readily converted to the corresponding amino acid sulfoxides in high yields by treatment with stoichiometric quantities of nitrous acid. Under the conditions employed, reaction with L-methionine-S (or R)-sulfoximine is specific for the sulfoximine nitrogen atom, and no reaction occurs at the α-amino group. Conversion to the sulfoxide proceeds with complete retention of configuration at the sulfur atom.