Oxidative coupling of aromatic thiols to corresponding disulfides using magnetic particle-supported sulfonic acid catalyst and hydrogen peroxide under mild conditions

Abstract

A green and efficient method for chemoselective oxidation of aromatic thiols to the corresponding disulfides is reported using a recoverable supported iron oxide nanoparticle (γ-Fe₂O₃–SO₃H) catalyst in the presence H₂O₂ as the oxidant and methanol as the solvent at room temperature. This reaction is operationally simple with an easy work-up, utilizes mild reaction conditions, is high-yielding, clean, and exhibits high selectivity toward aromatic disulfides with no side reactions. The supported iron oxide nanoparticles can be easily recovered using an external magnet from the reaction mixture and reused several times. Reaction progress was monitored by potentiometric titration.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• thiol
• disulfide
• supported iron oxide nanoparticles
• coupling
• oxidative

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.