Sulfooksidi

Sulfooksidi is a term used to describe a class of chemical compounds that contain a sulfur atom bonded to at least one oxygen atom through a double bond, in addition to other substituents. The most common and simplest example is dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), where the sulfur atom is bonded to two methyl groups and one oxygen atom. In sulfoxides, the sulfur atom typically has a formal positive charge and the oxygen atom has a formal negative charge, resulting in a polar S=O bond.

Sulfoxides exhibit a tetrahedral geometry around the sulfur atom, although the presence of lone pairs on sulfur can influence the precise bond angles. This polarity makes sulfoxides effective solvents for a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds. Many sulfoxides are chiral due to the presence of four different substituents around the sulfur atom, although achiral sulfoxides are also common.

The synthesis of sulfoxides can be achieved through the oxidation of sulfides. Various oxidizing agents can be employed for this purpose, with the choice depending on the desired selectivity and reaction conditions. Sulfoxides can undergo a variety of chemical reactions, including nucleophilic attack at the sulfur atom, alpha-deprotonation, and rearrangements. Their chemical properties make them valuable intermediates in organic synthesis and useful in various industrial applications, particularly as solvents.