Synthesis and characterization of VO-Vanillin complex immobilized on MCM-41 and its facial catalytic application in the sulfoxidation reaction in green media

Sulfoxides are useful for stereo control in asymmetric synthesis and they are important targets of pharmaceutical interest [1]. They have been used as reagents in functional group transformations such as the oxidation of thiols[2,3].The objective of this work was introducing VO-Vanillin-MCM-41 as an economical, environmentally benign, heterogeneous, and highly selective catalyst. Using of this catalyst in the preparation of sulfoxides leads to selectivity and excellent conversion.MCM-41 and preparedcatalyst was characterized by small angle XRD, SEM, EDS, FT-IR, TGA analysis and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis.Furthermore, the catalyst could be isolated with simple filtration and reused for several times witout significant loos in its activity.