Selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones at room temperature using H2O2 and a Mo(VI) salt as catalyst

Selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones is achieved by H2O2 using MoO2Cl2 as the catalyst. Various substituted sulfides having functional groups such as methyl, methoxy, bromo, nitro, alkene, alkyne, alcohol, ester, aldehyde and remarkably an oxime are successfully and selectively oxidized without affecting the sensitive functionalities.