Immobilized Copper (II) Complex on Magnetic Nanoparticles as Efficient and Recyclable Nanocatalyst for the Oxidation of Sulfides and Thiols

Supported copper II on functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles was used as high efficient and magnetically recoverable catalyst for the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and oxidative coupling of thiols into corresponding disulfides using hydrogen peroxide H2O2 as oxidant. An aliphatic and aromatic series of sulfides and thiols including various functional groups was successfully converted into corresponding products. All of products were obtained in good to excellent yields. The magnetic nanocatalyst was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, TEM, XRD, SEM, and TGA techniques. Recovery of the catalyst is easily performed via magnetic decantation and reused for several consecutive runs without significant loss of its catalytic efficiency and activity.