Selective catalytic oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides or sulfones over amorphous Nb2O5/AC catalysts in aqueous phase at room temperature

Selective oxidation of sulfides into sulfoxides or sulfones is an important transformation in organic synthesis. Activated carbon supported Nb-based catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method and then characterized by the XRD, TEM and XPS. The characterization results indicate Nb species is amorphous Nb2O5. The catalysts were applied for the catalytic oxidation of sulfides in aqueous phase with H2O2 as the oxidant. Sulfides could be converted into the corresponding sulfoxides or sulfones with high conversion and selectivity at room temperature. The recycling experiments showed the Nb2O5/AC catalysts exhibited good reusability. They could be recycled for 10 times without obvious loss of activity and selectivity.