Investigation of catalytic activity of oxovanadium(IV) unsymmetrical salencomplex in the oxidative coupling of thiols to disulfides with UHP

A main reaction in biological and chemical processes is the conversion of thiols todisulfides [۱]. The disulfide bond formation in active biochemical molecules, peptides, andsweet oil processing is essential. Besides, disulfides, as a highly beneficial class ofcompounds, are applied in various industrial and biological processes such as peptidestabilization in proteins, DNA cleavage, vulcanizing agents for elastomers and rubbers, anddesigning rechargeable lithium batteries [۲]. In the present work, the oxovanadium(IV)unsymmetrical salen complex (۱) was synthesized in good yield based on the the literature [۳].The synthesized complex ۱ was successfully applied as a new homogeneous catalyst foroxidative coupling of thiols to disulfides with urea/H۲O۲ (UHP) as oxidant in ethanol assolvent at room temperature (Scheme۱). Good yields of products, mild reaction conditionsand no formation of by-products can be mentioned as advantages of this method for thepreparation of disulfides.

Keywords:

Oxo-vanadium(IV) Schiff base complex , Homogeneous catalyst , Selective oxidation , Sulfide