Evidence of two key intermediates contributing to the selectivity of P450-biomimetic oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones.

A mild process for the selective oxidation of sulfides is in great demand. Therefore, probing the mechanism underlying the biological oxidation of sulfides under ambient conditions may provide valuable insights for the development of such a reaction. Based on porphyrin models of P450 enzymes, evidence of two key intermediates, Int0 and Int1, in this reaction is provided.