Subject organosulfur compounds

Organosulfur chemistry is presently a particularly dynamic subject area. The stereochemical aspects of this field are surveyed by M. Mikojajczyk and J. Drabowicz. in the fifth chapter, entitled Qural Organosulfur Compounds. The synthesis, resolution, and application of a wide range of chiral sulfur compounds are described as are the determination of absolute configuration and of enantiomeric purity of these substances. A discussion of the dynamic stereochemistry of chiral sulfur compounds including racemization processes follows. Finally, nucleophilic substitution on and reaction of such compounds with electrophiles, their use in asymmetric synthesis, and asymmetric induction in the transfer of chirality from sulfur to other centers is discussed in a chapter that should be of interest to chemists in several disciplines, in particular synthetic and natural product chemistry. 

The photochemistry of organosulfur compounds in general has been the subject both of annual reports [1,2] and of timely scattered reviews [3-5], Light-induced reactions of specific chromophores, such as sulfoxides and sulfones [6], thiocarbonyl compounds [7], and thiols [8] have been discussed in more detail, as has the photochemistry of thiophenes and certain other specific ring systems [9,10],... 

Although perhaps more properly considered among the organic substrates, the following are reports of the oxidation of a few organosulfur compounds. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a common polar nonaqueous solvent which solvates the lanthanides quite admirably. The rate of oxidation of DMSO by Ce(lV) in perchloric acid solutions is the subject of a report from Pratihari et al. (1976). The reaction conforms to the Michaelis-Menten rate law and the rate is enhanced by increasing acidity. The acid concentration dependence is attributed to hydrolysis of... 

Ash determination gives a measure of gross cation level. In the case of sulfates and sulfonates, the ash will consist mainly of sodium sulfate, both from sulfate originally present and sulfate formed as a combustion product of the organosulfur compounds. The ash may be subjected to qualitative analysis by X-ray fluorescence or emission spectroscopy to determine whether other ions are present. A general procedure for ash determination is given in ASTM D482 (39). 

---