Free sulphonamide

Hydrolysis of a sulphonamide. Mix 2 g. of the sulphonamide with 3-5 ml. of 80 per cent, sulphuric acid in a test-tube and place a thermometer in the mixture. Heat the test-tube, with frequent stirring by means of the thermometer, at 155-165° until the solid passes into solution (2-5 minutes). Allow the acid solution to cool and pour it into 25-30 ml. of water. Render the resulting solution alkaline with 20 per cent, sodium hydroxide solution in order to liberate the free amine. Two methods may be used for isolating the base. If the amine is volatile in steam, distil the alkaline solution and collect about 20 ml. of distillate extract the amine with ether, dry the ethereal solution with anhydrous potassium carbonate and distil off the solvent. If the amine is not appreciably steam-volatile, extract it from the alkaline solution with ether. The sulphonic acid (as sodium salt) in the residual solution may be identified as detailed under 13. 

Properties of deposits Deposits can be produced that are adherent, coherent and finely crystalline. Addition agents, e.g. organic sulphonamides can improve the deposit structure so that thick coatings can be produced free of nodules and blisters. The production of very smooth thick deposits of copper has been reported Thin deposits tend to reproduce the substrate topography, but some cases of levelling have been reported. The brightness tends to fall with increasing thickness. 

More recent work 8> shows that the S—N bond can be cleaved by hydroperoxides and that aromatic sulphonyl azides only undergo free radical thermal decomposition if a source of radicals is provided. Some light on the nature of the radical transfer agent has recently been shed by the observation 14> that dodecyl azides are formed (2.3%) in the thermolysis of mesitylene-2-sulphonyl azide (3) at 150 °C in w-dodecane under nitrogen. It seems likely that a dodecyl radical is produced by hydrogen abstraction by the triplet nitrene (5) [mesitylene-2-sulphonamide was also formed (1.1%)] which then attacks undecomposed sulphonyl azide... 

The rate of decomposition of benzenesulphonyl azide to benzene-sulphonamide is said to be accelerated appreciably by thiophenol 18> in a radical-catalyzed process probably not involving a free nitrene intermediate. 

The success of this reaction was ascribed to the solubility of the chlorozinc intermediate, whereas other chloramine-T derivatives (e.g. the sodium salt) are insoluble. An alternative non-nitrene pathway was not eliminated from consideration. On the other hand, no aromatic substitution or addition, characteristic of a free sulphonyl nitrene (see below), took place on treatment of jV,lV-dichloromethanesulphonamides with zinc powder in benzene in the cold or on heating. The only product isolated was that of hydrogen-abstraction, methanesulphonamide 42>, which appears to be more characteristic of the behaviour of a sulphonyl nitrene-metal complex 36,37). Photolysis of iV.iV-dichloromethanesulphonamide, or dichloramine-B, or dichloramine-T in benzene solution led to the formation of some unsubstituted sulphonamide and some chlorobenzene but no product of addition of a nitrene to benzene 19>. 

The photochemical deprotection of sulphonamides to free amines is synthetically useful193. This process is caused by electron transfer from an electron-donating sensitizer such as 1,2-dimethoxybenzene or 1,4-dimethoxybenzene and the presence of reductants like ammonia or hydrazine is also required194 (equation 139). 

Ring expansion of the sulphonamide reaction199 (equation 144) demonstrates the ability of a ruptured sulphur-centred free radical to undergo 1,3-Fries type migration200 (equation 145). Sulphur dioxide extrusion may also provide a synthetic route to fi-lactams201 (equation 146). 

The neutral sulphur compounds include sulphides or thioethers, disulphides, sulphoxides and sulphones, sulphate and sulphonate esters, and isothiocyanates. Acidic sulphur compounds, i.e. sulphonic and sulphinic acids, thiols and thio-phenols, and the primary sulphonamides have already been discussed. The sulphates of amines are converted by aqueous sodium hydroxide into the free bases the sulphate anion can be detected in the resulting aqueous solution as barium sulphate in the usual manner. 

Dermatitis herpetiformis Dapsone is typically effective in 24 h, or sulfapyrldine. Prolonged therapy necessary, a gluten-free diet can help, Antipruritics locally as required. Not other sulphonamides benef dal effect not due to antimicrobial action. Methaemoglobinaemia may complicate dapsone therapy. 

The action of sulphonylureas is intensified by heavy sulphonamide dosage and some sulphonamides increase free tolbutamide concentrations, probably by competing for plasma protein binding sites. These examples suffice to show that the possibility of interactions of practical clinical importance is a real one. 

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