Oxidative cleavage of α-sulfonyl ketones to carboxylic acids with Ce(NH4)2(NO3)6

Tandem oxidative cleavage of α-sulfonyl arylketones 2 with the combination of Ce(NH4)2(NO3)6 and O2 in MeCN afforded carboxylic acids 3 in moderate to good yields. The plausible reaction mechanism has been discussed.