8980. Sulfuryl Chloride

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7791-25-5
Cl2O2S; mol wt 134.97.
Cl 52.53%, O 23.71%, S 23.76%.
SO2Cl2.

Description and references

Prepd by passing a mixture of dry sulfur dioxide and chlorine through activated charcoal (other catalysts, such as camphor, can be used): Danneel, Angew. Chem. 39, 1553 (1926); Durrans, J. Soc. Chem. Ind. 45, 347 (1926); Meyer, Angew. Chem. 44, 41 (1931); Danneel, Hesse, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 212, 214 (1933); Allen, Maxson, Inorg. Synth. 1, 114 (1939).

Properties

Colorless, mobile liquid, very pungent odor. Even the vapors are corrosive to human skin and mucous membranes. Turns yellow upon prolonged standing because of slight dissociation into SO2 and Cl2. d420 1.6674. d40 1.7045. mp 54.1° (also given as 46°). bp 69.3°. nD20 1.4437. Dipole moment 1.86. Trouton constant 20.7. Slowly dec by water, forming H2SO4 and HCl. With ice-cold water it forms a hydrate, SO2Cl2.15H2O, resembling camphor in appearance. Violent reaction on contact with alkalies. Miscible with benzene, toluene, ether, glacial acetic acid, other organic solvents.

Use

Chlorinating and sulfonating or chlorosulfonating agent in organic syntheses, e.g., in the manufacture of chlorophenol and chlorothymol. Has been used in war gas formulations.