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Selective oxidation of sulfides was successfully performed by employing phenyliodine diacetate as an oxidant with the catalysis of TsOH in aqueous solution under mild conditions. Sulfoxides were formed with 1.1 equiv of PhI(OAc)2 at room temperature; whereas sulfones were obtained in the presence of 2.1 equiv of PhI(OAc)2 at 80 °C under otherwise identical conditions. Notably, various sulfides were converted to corresponding sulfoxides or sulfones in good to high yields by this metal-free protocol.

An efficient CuI-catalyzed carboxylation of terminal alkynes under mild conditions and without the need of any additional ligand is developed.

The oxidation of sulfides (I) with Oxone in ethanol leads to sulfoxides (II), while the oxidation in water affords sulfones (III) in high yields.