Alloxan-Catalyzed Biomimetic Oxidations with Hydrogen Peroxide or Molecular Oxygen

Inspired by biological flavin catalysis, the nonionic alloxan derivatives were applied as the biomimetic catalysts for various oxidations, catalyzing oxidations of sulfides and amines with hydrogen peroxide or molecular oxygen under mild conditions with high yields in a short time. The whole catalytic cycle has been verified to be a biomimetic approach through the formation of the alloxan hydroperoxide reactive intermediate. Additionally, encouraging asymmetric catalytic results have been obtained with an easily prepared chiral alloxan in a sulfoxidation reaction.