Flavin-catalyzed oxidation of amines and sulfides with molecular oxygen: Biomimetic green oxidation

Flavin-catalyzed green oxidation of heteroatom compounds such as sulfides and amines with molecular oxygen and even air in the presence of hydrazine monohydrate in a fluorous solvent such as 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol at room temperature gives the corresponding oxidation products highly efficiently and selectively along with water and molecular nitrogen, which are environmentally benign byproducts. The proposed reaction mechanism is based on the kinetics, solvent effect, and redox properties of flavin catalysts.