A Novel Catalytic Method for the Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides with Silica Sulfuric Acid and Sodium Nitrite in the Presence of KBr and/or NaBr as Catalyst

Abstract Highly efficient selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides by NaNO 2 and silica sulfuric acid catalyzed with KBr or NaBr has been reported. This oxidation was carried out in the presence of wet SiO 2 (50% w / w ) in acetonitrile at room temperature with good to excellent yields.