Activation of superoxide by boron trifluoride: chemoselective and efficient oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides via tetrafluorodiboronperoxide

Activation of superoxide with BF3 can facilitate highly chemoselective and efficient oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides in 5 m with excellent yields and without any interference in the presence of ketone, olefin, ether, and hydroxyl functionalities.