Vanadium-catalyzed Selective Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides and Sulfones with H2O2

A direct selective approach to the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones with H2O2 in moderate to good yields is developed. The reaction proceeds in the presence of 2 mol % of VO(acac)2 at room temperature. All sulfoxides and sulfones were detected by gas chromatography, and the molecular structures of 2-methylbenzyl 4-methylphenyl sulfone, 4-methylbenzyl 4-methylphenyl sulfone, 2-bromobenzyl 4-methylphenyl sulfone, and 4-tert-butylbenzyl benzyl sulfone were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography.