Characterization of the thioether model compounds and their oxidized product(s). The model compounds (1-3) were incubated with (1 equiv.) at 25°C for 28 h for TPAM and TMAM and 7 d for TPhAM to yield the corresponding oxidized species (4-6). 1H NMR spectra of (a) TPAM 1, (b)TMAM 2, (c) TPhAM 3, (d) TPAM-SO 4, (e) TMAM-SO 5, and (f) TPhAM-SO 6. *: signals due to the sulfone. #: signals from unreacted 3. FT-IR spectra of (g) 1 and 4, (h) 2 and 5, and (i) 3 and 6.