Facile and Selective Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides by t-Butyl Hydroperoxide in Aqueous Medium

Abstract
The oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides with TBHP in water only occurs selectively with high yields and permits the sulfoxides to be prepared without using organic solvents. When the reaction is performed in aqueous sulfuric acid with a H2SO4/sulfide molar ratio of 20/1, the oxidation rate is greatly increased.