Oxidation of chalcogenides using the peroxo complex of molybdenum [MoO(O2)2(H2O)(hmpa)], hmpa = hexamethylphosphoramide

this work reports the oxidation of a variety of selenides, sulfides, tellurides, selenoxides, sulfoxides and telluroxides with [moo(o2)2(h2o)(hmpa)] [hmpa = (me2n)3po] in tetrahydrofuran at 65-70 oc to produce the corresponding selenones, sulfones and tellurones in high yields.