Recent advances in the synthesis of sulfoxides from sulfides

This review deals with the various recent advances in the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides. Non-stereoselective, diastereoselective as well as enantioselective methods are covered. A considerable number of new oxidizing agents have been reported in the last ten to twelve years including those aiming to replace m-chloroperbenzoic acid as the classical sulfide oxidant: Oxone(R), dimethyldioxirane, among others. Chiral sulfoxides are especially important in modern asymmetric synthesis, their obtention from prochiral sulfides by Davis' oxaziridines and modifications of Sharpless procedure are discussed, alone with other less common methods. The most newly reported microbiological and enzymatic oxidations are also included.