Description
p-Toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA) or tosylic acid (TsOH) is an organic compound with the formula CH3C6H4SO3H. It is a white solid that is soluble in water, alcohols, and other polar organic solvents. The 4-CH3C6H4SO2- group is known as tosyl group and is often abbreviated as Ts or Tos. Most often, TsOH refers to the monohydrate, TsOH.H2O.
TsOH is a strong organic acid, about a million times stronger than benzoic acid. It is one of the few strong acids that is solid and, hence, conveniently weighed. Also, unlike some strong mineral acids (especially nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and per chloric acid), TsOH is non - oxidizing.
Definition
ChEBI: An arenesulfonic acid that is benzenesulfonic acid in which the hydrogen at position 4 is replaced by a methyl group.
Reactions
p-Toluene sulfonic acid may be converted to p-toluene sulfonic anhydride by heating with phosphorus pentoxide.
When TsOH is heated with acid and water, a hydrolysis reaction takes place and toluene is formed:
CH3C6H4SO3H + H2O → C6H5CH3 + H2SO4
This reaction is general for aryl sulfonic acids, but the rate at which it occurs depends upon the structure of the acid, the temperature and the nature of the catalyzing acid. For example p- TsOH is unaffected by cold concentrated hydrochloric acid, but hydrolyzes when heated to 186°C in concentrated phosphoric acid.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Preparation and handling
TsOH is prepared on an industrial scale by the sulfonation of toluene. It hydrates readily. Common impurities include benzene sulfonic acid and sulfuric acid. Impurities can be removed by recrystallization from its concentrated aqueous solution followed by azeotropic drying with toluene.
Toluene sulfonic acid finds use in organic synthesis as an "organic - soluble" acid catalyst. Examples of uses :
Acetalization of an aldehyde.
Esterification of carboxylic acids.
Trans esterification of an ester.
Tosylate esters
Tosylate esters are used as alkylating agents because the tosyl group is electron-with drawing, which makes the tosylate anion a good leaving group. The tosyl group is also a protecting group for alcohols and amines, prepared by combining the alcohol with 4- toluenesulfonyl chloride, usually in an aprotic solvent, often pyridine, the basicity of which activates the reaction. Toluenesulfonate esters undergo nucleophilic attack or elimination. Reduction of tosylate esters gives the hydrocarbon. Thus, tosylation followed by reduction allows for the deoxygenation of alcohols.
