Aerobic Oxidation of Some Arylthiols Catalyzed by a New Manganese (III) Schiff-Base Complex

Bis(2-hydroxybenzene)phthaldiimine (BHBPDI) as a new quadridentate Schiff base ligand and its [Mn(III)(BHBPDI)Cl] complex were synthesized and characterized by analytical and spectral data (MS, FT-IR, UV-Vis, 1H NMR). The aerobic oxidation of thiols catalyzed by Mn(III)-complex using molecular oxygen was studied at room temperature. The reaction proceeded to yield the corresponding symmetric disulfides in good to high yields. The reaction was retarded when the reaction mixture was saturated with nitrogen gas. This system provides an efficient and convenient method for the oxidation of thiols to symmetric disulfides.