GB555503A - Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of organic polysulphides - Google Patents

Abstract

555,503. Organic polysulphides. SHARPLES CHEMICALS, Inc. Feb. 28, 1942, No. 2656. Convention date, March 6, 1941. [Class 2 (iii)] Organic polysulphides are prepared by oxidizing an organic compound containing an -SM radical, where S stands for sulphur and M for a metal, ammonium, substituted ammonium, or hydrogen by mixing the said compound with a mineral acid in the presence of an alkyl nitrite, or a nitrous acid salt and an aliphatic alcohol. Types of compound which may be oxidized include dithiocarbamates, xanthates, mono-, di-, and trithiocarbonic acids, mercaptans and mercaptides. The reaction is carried out at a low temperature preferably between 20‹C. and - 20‹C. and preferably also in the presence of a considerable amount of water. Aliphatic alcohols mentioned include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl and butyl alcohols, but higher alcohols may also be used. The alcohol must be present in an amount of at least a molecular equivalent of the compound to be oxidized. In examples (1) Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate is oxidized with an aqueous-methanol solution of sodium nitrite in the presence of hydrochloric acids. (2) Sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate is similarly oxidized. (3) Sodium dibutyl dithiocarbamate is similarly oxidized. (4) Sodium di-isopropyldithiocarbamate is similarly oxidized. (5) Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate is similarly oxidized except that the alcohol used is ethanol. (6) As in example (5) using isopropanol. (7) As in example (1) but using sulphuric acid instead of hydrochloric acid. (8) As in example (1) but using butanol. (9) Sodium di-isobutyl dithiocarbamate is oxidized as in example (1). (10) Mercaptobenzothiazole is oxidized as in example (1). (11) Sodium amyl xanthate is similarly oxidized but using ethyl alcohol. (12) Benzyl mercaptan is similarly oxidized. (13) As in example (12) but with the exclusion of sodium hydroxide.