Disordered mesoporous V/TiO2 system for ambient oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides

High sulfide conversion and predominant sulfoxide yield has been observed with 0.1% vanadium doped disordered mesoporous Ti1−xVxO2 material at ambient and sub ambient temperatures using environmentally green H2O2 oxidant. Ti1−xVxO2 materials were prepared by one-pot solution combustion method in less than 15 min and thoroughly characterized by X-ray diffraction, HRTEM, Raman spectra and other physicochemical techniques. Different sulfides, such as, phenylsulfide, methyl-p-tolylsulfide, ethylsulfide, thioanisole, were converted into the corresponding sulfoxide. Isolated V5+ incorporated in the TiO2 lattice is likely to be the active species for the sulfide oxidation reaction. Catalyst recycling studies indicates the robustness of the catalyst.

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► V has been incorporated into the TiO2 lattice position.
► Ti1−xVxO2 exhibit disordered mesoporosity.
► Ti1−xVxO2 evaluated for oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides at ambient and at 278 K with environmentally benign H2O2.