Abstract Iodylbenzene is a poor oxidant of sulfur, but in the presence of vanadyl acetylacetonate, sulfides are converted into sulfoxides, sulfones and S-dealkylated products. To improve the selectivity and the yield of this reaction, different substituted iodylarenes are used. The N-(paraiodylphenyl) palmitoyl-amid is a promising oxidant for synthetic purposes.