Selective and efficient oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides with N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of β-cyclodextrin in water

A simple and highly selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) catalyzed by β-cyclodextrin in water has been developed. A series of sulfides were oxidized selectively at room temperature in excellent yields. This reaction proceeds without over-oxidation to sulfones under mild conditions using water as a solvent and has many advantages over the existing methodologies.