The oxidation of sulfides is the major method for the synthesis of sulfoxides which are versatile intermediates in organic synthesis (usable for C–C bond formation and functional group transformations)1 and are useful for preparation of biologically and medically important compounds.1 Although many reagents are available for the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides,2 the catalytic processes with environmentally benign oxidants have become increasingly important. In many of reported sulfide oxidation, unfortunately, heavy metals have been used as the catalysts that are very toxic. Also, in some cases, over oxidation is generally observed. For modify these defects, recently, gem-dihydroperoxides have been used as powerful oxygen transfer oxidant in some oxidation rection.3 In continue of our work in synthesis and application of gem-dihydroperoxide,4 we wish to report synthesis and application of urea- 2,2-dihydroperoxypropane as new, powerful, solid, stable and safe oxidant for chemoselective oxidation of sulfides to correspondig sulfoxides in mild and metal free condition (scheme 1).
