Poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)-H2O2 and poly(4-vinylpyridine)-H2O2 complexes: solid H2O2 equivalents for selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and ketones to gem-dihydroperoxidesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Characterization (NMR) data and copies of 1H and 13C spectra of the products. See DOI: 10.1039/c4gc00586d

• Main Authors: Surya Prakash, G. K, Shakhmin, Anton, Glinton, Kevin E, Rao, Sneha, Mathew, Thomas, Olah, George A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 24.06.2014
• ISSN: 1463-9262; 1463-9270
• DOI: 10.1039/c4gc00586d

Complexes of poly( N -vinylpyrrolidone) (PVD) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP) with hydrogen peroxide have been prepared and their synthetic utility as solid H 2 O 2 equivalents for the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and ketones to gem -dihydroperoxides has been studied. These complexes are convenient and safe alternatives to H 2 O 2 solutions and it is found that various symmetric as well as unsymmetrical sulfides undergo oxidation under mild conditions to provide the respective sulfoxides in high yields. A series of gem -dihydroperoxides were obtained from the corresponding ketones in good yields under ambient conditions. Selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and safe conversion of ketones to gem -dihydroperoxides were achieved under mild conditions using solid poly( N -vinylpyrrolidone)/poly(4-vinylpyridine)-H 2 O 2 complexes in good yields.