Imide-Catalyzed Oxidation System: Sulfides to Sulfoxides and Sulfones

A new combination system, the oxidation of sulfides using aqueous NaOCl in the presence of a catalytic amount of imide under two-phase conditions, has been developed. The combination effectively converts various sulfides to the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones. It was deduced that the imide could react with NaOCl to produce N-chloroimide, which would play roles of both the active oxidizing reagent and phase transfer catalyst.