Tris[(2-oxazolinyl)phenolato]manganese(III) as catalyst for mild and efficient oxidation of sulfides to sulfones with Oxone®

Abstract

Tris[(2-oxazolinyl)phenolato]manganese(III), Mn(phox)3, catalysed oxidation of dialkyl, diaryl, dibenzyl, and alkyl aryl sulfides to the corresponding sulfones is carried out by Oxone® in biphasic conditions (CH2Cl2/H2O), in the presence of tetra n-butylammonium bromide as phase transfer agent at room temperature in very short reaction times (5 min.) with quantitative yields.