PhSe(O)OH/Al(NO3)3-Catalyzed selectivity controllable oxidation of sulphide owing to the synergistic effect of Se, Al3+ and nitrate

Abstract

Selective oxidation of sulphides to produce sulfoxides or sulphones is a key technique in industry. In this paper, we found that the reaction could be catalyzed by a PhSe(O)OH/Al(NO₃)₃ system in ethanol under mild conditions using H₂O₂ as the green oxidant. Interestingly, the reaction selectivity could be controlled by adjusting the employed H₂O₂ amount, affording a potentially applicable method for large scale productions. The synergistic effect of Se, Al³⁺ and nitrate is the key factor for the reaction.