Free Radical and Electrochemically Induced Oxidation of Organic Sulfur-, Selenium- and Phosphorus-Compounds

Abstract A series of MeS(CH2), SMe, MeS(CH2)n SeMe, MeSe(CH2)n SeMe (with n = 1−5), and RS(CH2), PEt2 (n = 2−4) have been investigated with respect to their radiation chemical one-electron and electrochemical two-electron oxidations. The results essentially confirm an interaction of the two respective heteroatoms in these compounds already in the unoxidized state. Oxidation is thus achieved by removal of antibonding σ∗ electrons.