Chiral oxo-vanadium (+)-pseudoephedrine complex immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles: A highly efficient and recyclable novel nanocatalyst for the chemoselective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using H2O2

•The first chiral VO(pseudoephedrine)@MNPs was easily synthesized and characterized.•It catalyzed highly efficient chemoselective oxidation of sulfides.•The catalyst allows for greener method while keeping high yields and low times.•The catalyst was easily reused up to 20 runs without significant loss of activity.

The first chiral oxo-vanadium (+)-pseudoephedrine complex supported on magnetic nanoparticles Fe3O4 [VO(pseudoephedrine)@MNPs] as novel magnetically interphase nanocatalyst was designed and characterized using the most common techniques. VO(pseudoephedrine)@MNPs catalyzed the chemoselective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using hydrogen peroxide as a green oxidant in high yields with 20–27% enantiomeric excesses under solvent-free conditions at room temperature. The catalyst was recycled up to 20 times with little loss of activity and enantioselectivity.

Graphical abstractChiral oxo-vanadium (+)-pseudoephedrine complex immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles Fe3O4: a highly efficient and recyclable novel nanocatalyst for the chemoselective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using H2O2.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (144 K)Download as PowerPoint slide