Highly efficient selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides by montmorillonite-immobilized metalloporphyrins in the presence of molecular oxygen

•Immobilized metalloporphyrins was used as catalyst in the oxidation of sulfides.•Manganese porphyrin is more selective than cobalt and iron porphyrin catalysts.•Catalyst could be reused consecutively five times without loss of activity.

Highly efficient and selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides with dioxygen catalyzed by cationic meso-tetrakis (1-methyl-4-pyridyl) (TM4PyP) metalloporphyrins immobilized into montmorillonite (MT) interlayer was achieved. Manganese (II) porphyrin (MnTM4PyP-MT) presented excellent activity for the oxidation of sulfides under ambient conditions. In the model oxidation, thioanisole was converted completely and the selectivity towards sulfoxide was up to 95%. This catalyst also showed high activity and selectivity for the most sulfides. The catalyst could be reused consecutively five times without significant loss of activity.