Efficient Chemoselective Reduction of N-Oxides and Sulfoxides Using a Carbon-Supported Molybdenum-Dioxo Catalyst and Alcohol

The chemoselective reduction of a wide range of N-oxides and sulfoxides with alcohols is achieved using a carbon-supported dioxo-molybdenum (Mo@C) catalyst. Of the 10 alcohols screened, benzyl alcohol exhibits the highest reduction efficiency. A variety of N-oxide and both aromatic and aliphatic sulfoxide substrates bearing halogens as well as additional reducible functionalities are efficiently and chemoselectively reduced with benzyl alcohol. Chemoselective N-oxide reduction is effected even in the presence of potentially competing sulfoxide moieties. In addition, the Mo@C catalyst is air- and moisture-stable, and is easily separated from the reaction mixture and then re-subjected to reaction conditions over multiple cycles without significant reactivity or selectivity degradation. The high stability and recyclability of the catalyst, paired with its low toxicity and use of earth-abundant elements makes it an environmentally friendly catalytic system.