Measurement of reduced sulphur compounds contained in aqueous matrices by direct injection into a gas chromatograph with a flame photometric detector

An analytical method was developed to measure the concentration of hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl disulphide contained in aqueous matrices (distilled water, tap water, kraft mill condensates and membrane bioreactor mixed liquor) by direct injection of aqueous samples into a gas chromatograph with a flame photometric detector. The analytical method requires a small sample volume (2 ml), sample preparation and analysis can be completed within 20 min and no complex sampling apparatus is needed. Consistent results and good recoveries were observed in all matrices investigated over the range of concentrations examined. The relationship between the normalized peak area obtained from GC–flame photometric detection and the concentration of the reduced sulphur compounds (RSCs) examined did not follow the theoretical power law exponent of two. The power law exponent appeared to decrease with the organic fraction associated with each RSC. The observed power law exponents for hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl disulphide were 1.92, 1.90, 1.66 and 1.72, respectively.     

Polymer-supported thioanisole: a versatile platform for organic synthesis reagents

A new cross-linked polystyrene-supported thioanisole reagent is reported. This reagent incorporates the flexible JandaJel™ cross-linker and can be treated with methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate to form the corresponding sulfonium salt. This salt can in turn be deprotonated to form a polymer-supported sulfur ylide that is able to react with aldehydes and ketones to form epoxides. The thioanisole reagent can also be oxidized to form an insoluble sulfoxide reagent that is useful in Swern oxidation reactions. In these reactions, the polymer-supported thioanisole-based reagents can be recovered, regenerated and reused.     

Sulfur-directed metal-free and regiospecific methyl C(sp3)–H imidation of thioanisoles

Regiospecific and direct imidation of the methyl C(sp³)–H bond of thioanisoles is realized under mild and metal-free conditions with N-fluorobis(benzenesulfonyl)imide as an oxidant and nitrogen source. Proposed mechanism suggests that thionium ion intermediates and a Pummerer-type reaction are involved. The imidation has advantages such as high step-economy, excellent functionality tolerance, and regiospecificity, giving structurally diverse imidation products.