Swern Oxidation Stage 1 Activation of DMSO

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In the first stage dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) reacts with oxalyl chloride to give an electrophilic sulfur compound, which collapses to give a chlorosulfonium ion, CO₂ and CO.

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K. Omura and D. Swern, Tetrahedron, 1978, 34, 1651–1660.