Versatile catalysis of "natural extract": oxidation of sulfides and alcohols and ipso-hydroxylation of arylboronic acids.

In the present work, we have described the versatile applications of naturally available inexpensive citrous lemon juice as biocatalyst for controlled oxidation of sulfides and alcohols and ipso-hydroxylation of arylboronic acids using 30% H2O2 as a green oxidant. A series of structurally divergent sulfides and benzyl alcohols were oxidized to their corresponding sulfoxides and aldehydes, respectively, with good-to-excellent yields. Similarly, aryl and heteroaryl boronic acids were rapidly, often within minutes, transformed to their corresponding phenols at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]