Green, inexpensive, and fast conversion of sulfides to sulfoxides by multiusable Mo(VI) macrocyclic Schiff base complex supported on Fe3O4 nanoparticles in solvent-free conditions

In the present study, the macrocyclic-based Mo(VI) Schiff base complex was harbored on Fe3O4 nanoparticles and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, diffuse reflectance spectra, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Separable nanocatalyst was tested under solvent-free conditions for the oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide, diphenyl sulfide, benzyl phenyl sulfide, dipropyl sulfide, dibutyl sulfide, dimethyl sulfide, bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfide, diallyl sulfide, and benzothiophene using H2O2 (30% in water) as green oxidant. This catalyst is very efficient for thioanisole oxidation with 100% conversion in 3 min. We were able to separate the nanocatalyst magnetically using external magnetic field and to apply the catalyst at least six consecutive times without a significant decrease in conversion. Remarkable and excellent turnover frequency of the catalyst was obtained to oxidize the thioanisole (526,000 h−1), dimethyl sulfide (526,000 h−1), diallyl sulfide (526,000 h−1), dibutyl sulfide (521,000 h−1), and dipropyl sulfide (500,000 h−1). The prepared nanocatalyst has been beneficial in catalytic activity, selectivity, reaction time, and reusability with easy separation.