Scalable selective electrochemical oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides

An electrochemical protocol for the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides has been developed in which NaCl plays a dual role: (1) as an electrolyte for the electrochemical transformations and (2) as a redox mediator to avoid oxidation of sensitive functional groups. Instead of a traditional oxidant, this methodology utilised traceless electrons as an ideal oxidant using anodic oxidation to access sulfoxides in good to excellent yields at ambient temperature. This metal-free electrochemical protocol is simple, environmentally friendly, and compatible with various sensitive functional groups using mixed acetone/water as the green solvent. Moreover, the cost-effective graphite felt electrodes can be reused up to ten times without loss of electrochemical activity. The methodology could be easily conducted on a gram or even a decagram scale.

Automated summary

In this electrochemical protocol, NaCl serves as both an electrolyte and a redox mediator for the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides. Using traceless electrons as an ideal oxidant, this method offers good to excellent yields of sulfoxides at ambient temperature, while being environmentally friendly and compatible with sensitive functional groups. The cost-effective graphite felt electrodes can be reused multiple times without loss of activity, allowing for scalability of the methodology.