A selective Oxidation of Sulfides with Hydrogen peroxide in the Presence of New o-Aminophenol Molybdenum Complex : Sulfoxide vs. sufones

Abstract

An efficient and eco-compatible route for the selective oxidation of a variety of sulfides to the corresponding sulfones with 30% aqueous H2O2 as an oxidant and a molybdenum complex as a catalyst, is described. This new o-aminophenol based oxo-molybdenum complex was synthesized and characterized by ESI-MS, UV-Vis and FT-IR techniques. The effects of reaction variables such as solvent, and oxidant amount on the catalytic selectivity towards sulfone compound, were systematically investigated. Deep desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) with high selectivity was achieved using this catalytic system at 60°C under atmospheric pressure. This solvent free route provides an atom-efficient protocol for the oxidation of bulky organic sulfides in fossil fuels.

Keywords

• selective oxidation
• of sulfides؛ o-aminophenol molybdenum complex؛ sulfoxide؛ sulfone؛ solvent free condition