ASYMMETRIC OXIDATION OF SULFIDES TO SULFOXIDES BY CHIRAL TITANIUM PILLARED MONTMORILLONITE CATALYST

Several sulfoxides with high enantiomeric purity have been synthesised using heterogeneous catalytic systems. A variety of titanium catalyst s supported on Al2O3, SiO2, ZrO2 and montmorillonite, pillared clay ca talysts using montmorillonite obtained from different sources and vari ous chiral auxiliaries in presence of stoichiometric amounts of tertia ry butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) have been evaluated in asymmetric oxidat ion of prochiral sulfides to sulfoxides. It was found that Ti-PILC usi ng montmorillonite K10 afforded optimum results. A probable active spe cies responsible for high enantioselectivity is also discussed.