An isotetramolybdate-supported rhenium carbonyl derivative: synthesis, characterization, and use as a catalyst for sulfoxidation.

A novel isotetramolybdate-supported rhenium carbonyl derivative, [(CH3)4N]4[{Re(CO)3}4(Mo4O16)]·H2O (1), has been successfully synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction crystallography, IR and UV spectroscopy, etc. Results showed that, compound 1 is an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of thioanisole into the corresponding sulfoxide in the presence of hydrogen peroxide with good to excellent conversion (99%) and excellent selectivity (93%). Highly efficient oxygenation of thioanisole can also be achieved with 100% selectivity of sulfone and >99% conversion. Furthermore, optimized conditions were applied to a range of sulfides to obtain the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones.