Microwave- and Ultrasound- Accelerated Green Permanganate Oxidation of Thioethersc

Abstract

Product formation from the solvent-free oxidation of aliphatic, cyclic or aromatic thioethers by permanganate supported on copper sulfate pentahydrate has been investigated in detail with respect to the importance of the nature of thioethers, the molar ratio of potassium permanganate absorbed on copper sulfate pentahydrate and reaction activation methods. While microwave irradiation affects appropriately on the fast formation of the sulfones within 3-13 minutes to get the yield more than 74%, ultrasound irradiation activates oxidation of cyclic thioethers mildly to form the corresponding cyclic sulfoxides with the high yields in the range of 83-96%.