The preparation and oxidation of disulfides as a route to sulfone-sulfides

Abstract

Mercaptide/alkoxide competition in substitution and addition reactions is discussed as it applies to the preparation of disulfides. Oxidation of an asymmetric disulfide with H2O2 is shown to exhibit high regioselectivity which may be rationalized in the same terms employed for other sulfide oxidations, viz. substituent electron withdrawing ability (Xp) and steric effects.