A tetrameric double peroxyl bonds-bridged Zr-substituted phosphotungstate with good catalytic oxidation activity for sulfides

Exploring an effective catalyst to catalytically oxidize sulfides to the corresponding sulfoxides or sulfones is of crucial importance not only for environmental protection, but also for the synthesis of high-value chemicals. Herein, a neoteric tetrameric double peroxyl bonds-bridged Zr-substituted phosphotungstate, K₈Na_19.5H_0.5[Zr₂(O₂)₂(β-PW₁₀O₃₈)]₄·68H₂O (1), has been successfully synthesized by a conventional aqueous method. Compound 1 is consisted of four [β-PW₁₀O₃₈]¹¹⁻ subunits, where every two [β-PW₁₀O₃₈]¹¹⁻ subunits are bridged by two Zr⁴⁺ ions via double peroxyl bonds to form a square-shaped structure. Moreover, compound 1 was selected as an effective catalyst for the catalytic oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides or sulfones owing to the good catalytic property of POMs. As expected, 1 exhibits good performance in catalytic oxidation of sulfides to the responding sulfoxides or sulfones.