TiO2 nanoparticles and Preyssler-type heteropoly acid modified nano-sized TiO2: A facile and efficient catalyst for the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfones and sulfoxides

A new and efficient synthetic method has been developed for the selective conversion of sulfides into their corresponding sulfones and sulfoxides using H2O2 in the presence of neat or Preyssler-type heteropoly acid modified nano-sized TiO2 as catalyst, respectively. The reaction was performed at room temperature with quantitative yields. The catalyst is reusable without significant loss of activity for the next oxidation reaction.