Highly selective sulfoxidation of allylic and vinylic sulfides by hydrogen peroxide using a flavin as catalyst.

A highly chemoselective oxidation of allylic and vinylic sulfides to the corresponding sulfoxides has been developed using flavin 1 as the oxidation catalyst and hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant. The sulfoxides were formed in good to excellent yields in a highly selective manner even when an excess of the oxidant was used. Sulfone formation was completely suppressed to <0.5% (in one single case 1.5% sulfone was detected). No epoxidation of double bonds or interference with other functional groups was observed under the reaction conditions. The general applicability was demonstrated by the selective oxidation of various allylic and vinylic sulfides having different electronic properties. A number of functionalities including hydroxy, acetoxy, amino, silyloxy, and formyl groups are tolerated under these mild reaction conditions.