Selective H2O2 oxidation of organic sulfides to sulfoxides catalyzed by cobalt(III)–salen ion

The catalytic activity of cobalt(III)–salen ion catalyzed selective H2O2 oxidation of organic sulfides to sulfoxides is examined using spectrophotometric technique. The catalytic reaction proceeds through Michaelis–Menten kinetics and the rate of the reaction is highly sensitive to the nature of the substituent present in the substrate as well as in the salen ligand. The product analyses show that the aryl methyl sulfides are selectively oxidized to the corresponding sulfoxides. Based on the spectral and kinetic studies two possible mechanisms have been proposed.

Graphical abstractCobalt(III)–salen ion catalyzed selective H2O2 oxidation of organic sulfides to sulfoxides. Reaction follows Michaelis–Menten kinetics. The reaction rate is highly sensitive to the change of substituent in sulfide and salen. The two possible mechanisms have been proposed for this reaction.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide