A highly efficient, green, rapid, and chemoselective oxidation of sulfides using hydrogen peroxide and boric acid as the catalyst under solvent-free conditions

We report boric acid as a highly efficient and eco-friendly catalyst for the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides or sulfones, in excellent yields under solvent-free conditions, using 30% hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. Various sulfides possessing functional groups such as alcohol, ester, and aldehyde are successfully and selectively oxidized without affecting sensitive functionalities.