HOMOGENEOUS CATALYSIS IN THE CR(V) OXIDATION OF ORGANIC SULFIDES

Pyridine bases picolinic acid, 2,2'-bipyridyl, 1,10-phenanthroline, im idazole and N- methylimidazole efficiently catalyse the carboxylato bo und chromium (V) oxidation of aryl methyl sulfides. The catalysis is e xplained in terms of intermediate Cr(V)-catalyst and Cr(V)-catalyst-su bstrate complexes The products. sulfoxide and Cr(III). are formed due to ligand coupling of O and sulfur center of sulfide. The catalysed Cr (V) oxidation of organic sulfides is in accordance with the reactivity - selectivity principle Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd