Dimethyl disulfide

Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula CH3SSCH3. It is a flammable liquid with an unpleasant, garlic-like odor. The compound is colorless although impure samples often appear yellowish.

Dimethyl disulfide
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
(Methyldisulfanyl)methane[1]
Other names
Dimethyl disulfide[1]
Methyl disulfide
Methyldisulfide
Dimethyldisulfide
Methyldithiomethane
2,3-Dithiabutane
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
Abbreviations DMDS
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.009.883
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C2H6S2/c1-3-4-2/h1-2H3 checkY
    Key: WQOXQRCZOLPYPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1S/C2H6S2/c1-3-4-2/h1-2H3
  • S(SC)C
Properties
CH3SSCH3
Molar mass 94.19 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless liquid
Density 1.06 g/cm3[2]
Melting point −85 °C (−121 °F; 188 K)[2]
Boiling point 110 °C (230 °F; 383 K)[2]
2.5 g/L (20 °C)[2]
Vapor pressure 3.8 kPa (at 25 °C) Arkema data sheet
Hazards
Flash point 15 °C (59 °F; 288 K)[2]
370 °C (698 °F; 643 K)[2]
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
190 mg/kg (oral, rat)[3]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Occurrence and synthesis

Dimethyl disulfide is widespread in nature. It is emitted by bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. Along with dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl trisulfide it has been confirmed as volatile compounds given off by the fly-attracting plant known as dead-horse arum (Helicodiceros muscivorus). These flies are attracted to the odor resembling that of fetid meat, and thus help pollinate this plant.[4]

DMDS can be produced by the oxidation of methanethiol, e.g. with iodine:

2 CH3SH + I2 → CH3SSCH3 + 2 HI

Chemical reactions

Important reactions include chlorination giving methanesulfenyl chloride (CH3SCl), methanesulfinyl chloride (CH3S(O)Cl),[5] and methanesulfonyl chloride (CH3SO2Cl) as well as oxidation with hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid giving the thiosulfinate methyl methanethiosulfinate (CH3S(O)SCH3).[6]

Uses

DMDS is used as a food additive in onion, garlic, cheese, meats, soups, savory flavors, and fruit flavors.[7] Industrially, DMDS is used in oil refineries as a sulfiding agent.[8] DMDS is also an effective soil fumigant in agriculture, registered in many states in the U.S. as well as globally. In this capacity, DMDS is an important alternative in replacing methyl bromide, which is being phased out, however less effective than the former. This pesticide is marketed as "Paladin" by Arkema.[9][10]

Industrial use

DMDS is used to prepare catalysts for hydrodesulfurization, because of its high sulfur content and low decomposition temperature. Refineries utilize DMDS instead of other sulfur spiking agents for catalyst sulfiding because it has more sulfur per pound than dimethyl sulfide (DMS) or di-tertiary-butyl polysulfide (TBPS).[11] Once injected to a hydrotreater or hydrocracker, DMDS decomposes to form H2S. The H2S reacts with the metal oxides on the catalyst, converting them to the active metal sulfide form.[12]

DMDS also works as an effective product for operators in the petrochemicals industry who must protect their steam-cracking coils against the formation of coke and carbon monoxide.

DMDS is utilized in the preparation of 4-(methylthio)phenol which is used in the production of various pesticides. DMDS and chlorine are reacted with borontrifluoride phenoxide to produce 4-(methylthio)phenol. Thiophene and DMDS are blended with combustible hydrocarbon fuel gas to impart a gassy odor to the fuel gas.

References
  1. Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry : IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book). Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry. 2014. p. 708. doi:10.1039/9781849733069-FP001. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4.
  2. Record in the GESTIS Substance Database of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  3. , EPA DMDS Fact Sheet
  4. Marcus C. Stensmyr; Isabella Urru; Ignazio Collu; Malin Celander; Bill S. Hansson; Anna-Maria Angioy (2002). "Rotting smell of dead-horse arum florets". Nature. 420 (6916): 625–626. doi:10.1038/420625a. PMID 12478279. S2CID 1001475.
  5. Irwin B. Douglass and Richard V. Norton "Methanesulfinyl Chloride" Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 5, p.709-712 (1973).
  6. Block, Eric; O'Connor, John (1974). "Chemistry of Alkyl Thiosulfinate Esters. VI. Preparation and Spectral Studies". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 96 (12): 3921. doi:10.1021/ja00819a033.
  7. , OSHA
  8. Dimethyl Disulfide (DMDS) Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, Arkema, Inc.
  9. "DMDS for agricultural soil fumigation". Arkema. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  10. "Registration of Paladin and Paladin EC containing the new active ingredient dimethyl disulfide" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. March 9, 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. Dimethyl Disulfide (DMDS)
  12. "Reactor Resources".

Reactor Resources LLC

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