N-Bromophthalimide [NBPI] as a powerful oxidizing agent for the facile and chemoselective oxidation of thiols to symmetrical disulfides

A new application of N-bromophthalimide for the facile oxidation of thiols to their corresponding symmetrical disulfides is described. A wide variety of thiols (aromatic, aliphatic and heterocyclic) were selectively oxidised to their corresponding disulfides with [NBPI] in a mixture of acetone and water under microwave irradiation in a microwave oven at a power output of 650W.