Visible light induced deoxygenation of sulfoxides with isopropanol

Abstract

We report visible light induced deoxygenation of sulfoxides to sulfides catalyzed by anthraquinone under irradiation at 430–440 nm at room temperature employing cheap isopropanol as a green reducing agent. Key reaction parameters, including the irradiation wavelength, reaction medium and photocatalyst, are probed. According to this procedure, a variety of sulfoxides are deoxygenated to the corresponding sulfides in satisfactory yields. Based on the experimental results, a photocatalytic hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) pathway is proposed.