Efficient oxidation of olefins and sulfides catalyzed by manganese(III)-tridentate Schiff base complex using UHP as oxidant

Catalytic studies were performed to develop a simple oxidation system for olefins and sulfides using manganese(III)-tridentate Schiff base complex, Mn(N-OPh-sal)(acac)(EtOH) (N-HOPh-Hsal = N-hydroxyphenyl-salicyldienamine, Hacac = acetylacetone), and urea–hydrogen peroxide (UHP) as terminal oxidant. Conversions up to 90% for olefins at 0 °C and 96% for sulfides at room temperature as well as sulfoxide selectivity up to 73% were achieved in short reaction times. Also this study confirms the accelerating effect of strong π-donor axial ligands such as imidazole (ImH) on the oxidation reactions.