An Efficient and Selective Photocatalytic System for the Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides

Abstract

A heterogenous nafion membrane containing lead ruthenate pyrochlore (Pyc) and [Ru(bpy)3]2+ (designated as |NPycx−Ru(bpy)|) photochemically catalyzes the selective oxidation of organic sulfide to sulfoxide in the presence of O2 through formation of H2O2 as an intermediate (see scheme, R=Ph, PhCOCH3, PhOCH3).