Selected methods for the synthesis of sulfoxides and sulfones with emphasis on oxidative protocols

A large variety of organosulfur compounds has been shown to exhibit diverse biological effects such as anti-oxidant effects, anti-inflammatory properties, inhibition of platelet aggregation, reduction of systolic blood pressure, and reduction of cholesterol. In addition, these sulfoxides and sulfones show wide and significant applications as commodity chemicals in various fields of chemistry. Thus, the synthesis of sulfoxides and sulfones has remained a point of attraction for synthetic organic chemists. Selected from an array of methods used to synthesize the sulfoxides or sulfones, oxidation of sulfides is the most promising one. This review summarizes chemoselective methods for the synthesis of the sulfoxides and sulfones with focus on the oxidative protocols, which will help researchers to explore and utilize the mentioned protocols for different organic transformations.