Hydrogen Peroxide → 4-(Methylsulfinyl)phenol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

H2WO4 (0.029 g, 0.114 mmol) was stirred in H2O (10 ml). 50% NaOH (0.040 ml) was first added (pH>12) and then ACOH (0.040 ml) to reach pH 5. 4-methylsulfanyl-phenol (4 g, 0.029 mol) was added and the reaction mixture was heated to 65° C. 30% H2O2 in H2O (3 ml) was added in portions over 10 minutes. The reaction mixture was allowed to stir at room temperature for 1 h. 50% NaHSO3 was added to quench the reaction. Methylene chloride was added and the compound was washed with brine and purified by chromatography (0→10% EtOH in methylene chloride) to give 1.9 g of 4-methanesulfinyl-phenol (1) (42%) and 1.5 g of 4-methanesulfonyl-phenol (2) (30%).

Provenance & Evidence