Benzyltriphenylphosphonium dichromate as a mild reagent for oxidation of thiols and sulfides

Oxidation of thiols and sulfides under non-aqueous and aprotic conditions u ses benzyltriphenylphosphonium dichromate (1, PhCH2PPh3)(2) Cr2O7) which is very easily prepared by mixing an aqueous solution of benzyltriphenylphosp honium chloride with CrO3 in 3N HCl at room temperature. This reagent, a st able orange powder which may be stored for a month without loss of activity , is soluble in acetonitriie, chloroform and dichloromethane and slightly s oluble in carbon tetrachloride, ether and hexane.