Silica sulfuric acid promoted selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides or sulfones in the presence of aqueous H2O2

Alkyl and aryl sulfides are oxidized to the corresponding sulfoxides or sulfones in excellent yields with aqueous hydrogen peroxide in the presence of silica sulfuric acid as an efficient solid acid catalyst. The oxidation of alkyl and aryl sulfide proceeds at 25–90°C and the corresponding sulfoxides or sulfones was selectively obtained by controlling the amounts of H2O2 and catalyst.