Reactions of ethylene oxides. Part I. Preparation of ethylene sulphides and trithiocarbonates

Abstract

Some simple ethylene oxides are converted into the corresponding ethylene sulphides by the action of thiourea, thiocyanates, and thiocarbanilide. Control of the experimental conditions diminishes the amount of high-molecular material sometimes formed, which, however, is the exclusive product from glycidol and styrene oxide. The characteristic sparingly soluble yellow trithiocarbonates are obtained from some simple ethylene oxides and sulphides by the action of xanthates. cycloHexene oxide with sodium trithiocarbonate, and cyclohexene sulphide with this and higher thiocarbonates, Na2CSn (n=3-6), yield cyclohexene trithiocarbonate, whereas this product, mixed with a white compound, m. p. 155-5°, is obtained from cyclohexene oxide and the perthiocarbonates.