A highly efficient, green, rapid, and chemoselective oxidation of sulfides using hydrogen peroxide and boric acid as the catalyst under solvent-free conditions

We report boric acid as a highly efficient and eco-friendly catalyst for the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides or sulfones, in excellent yields under solvent-free conditions, using 30% hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. Various sulfides possessing functional groups such as alcohol, ester, and aldehyde are successfully and selectively oxidized without affecting sensitive functionalities. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.