Oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones with 30% hydrogen peroxide under organic solvent- and halogen-free conditions

Aromatic and aliphatic sulfides are oxidized to sulfoxides or sulfones in h igh yield with 30% hydrogen peroxide under organic solvent- and halogen-fre e conditions. Dialkyl and alkyl aryl sulfides are cleanly oxidized to sulfo xides using aqueous hydrogen peroxide without catalysts. The best catalyst for the sulfone synthesis consists of sodium tungstate, phenylphosphonic ac id, and methyltrioctyl-ammonium hydrogensulfate. Go-existing primary or sec ondary alcohol or olefinic moieties are unaffected under such conditions. ( C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.