New ligands for manganese catalysed selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides with hydrogen peroxide

In situ prepared manganese complexes with ligands 1-5 have been used in the catalytic oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using hydrogen peroxide at 0 degreesC in acetone. Using ligand 4, methyl phenyl sulfoxide is obtained in 55% yield and turnover numbers up to 250, while the formation of sulfone is almost suppressed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.