Tantalum Carbide or Niobium Carbide Catalyzed Oxidation of Sulfides with Hydrogen Peroxide: Highly Efficient and Chemoselective Syntheses of Sulfoxides and Sulfones

The oxidation of sulfides with 30% hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by tantalum carbide provided the corresponding sulfoxides in high yields. The reaction of sulfides with 30% hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by niobium carbide efficiently afforded the corresponding sulfones. These catalysts can easily be recovered from the reaction mixture and may be repeatedly used as catalysts for the oxidation without losing their activity.