Two kinds of catalysts of peroxotungstates immobilized on ionic liquid-modified silica have been synthesized and characterized. By comparing with other heterogeneous catalysts, the most characteristic of these heterogeneous catalysts is the catalyst formed from the combination of catalytic active center peroxotungstate with an ionic liquid. Thereinto, ionic liquid-modified supported catalysts provide the hydrophobic environment for organic reactions. We presume that the heterogeneous catalyst would display excellent catalytic ability depending on the additive effect of an ionic liquid and peroxotungstate. Their catalytic properties in oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones were investigated with 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide at room temperature. These recoverable catalysts both exhibit high catalytic activities in the oxidation reaction of sulfoxides and provide excellent chemselectivities towards sulfur groups with unsaturated double bonds when the aqueous hydrogen peroxide was greatly in excess. The yields of methyl phenyl sulfoxide were still satisfied when the catalyst was reused for a sixth time. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.