Chemical Properties
bis-(Methylthio)methane has a mustard-like odor.
Chemical Properties
CLEAR COLOURLESS TO PALE YELLOW LIQUID
Occurrence
Reported found in Camembert and Gruyere cheeses, milk, fish oil, cooked and canned beef, shitake mushroom, truffle, prawn and lobster.
Uses
Bis(methylthio)methane is used in method for reducing odor in room in remodeling work by removing causative substances.
Definition
ChEBI: Bis(methylthio)methane is a dithioacetal.
General Description
The liquid structure of
bis(methylthio)methane at room temperature was studied by the bonding and non-bonding interatomic potential functions (FMP-RMC) simulation.
Flammability and Explosibility
Not classified
Purification Methods
Work in an efficient fume cupboard as the substance may contain traces (or more) of methylmercaptan which has a very bad odour. Dissolve the mercaptal in Et2O, shake it with aqueous alkalis then dry it over anhydrous K2CO3, filter and distil it over K2CO3 under a stream of N2. If the odour is very strong, then allow all gas efluents to bubble through 5% aqueous NaOH solution which is then treated with dilute KMnO4 in order to oxidise MeSH to odourless products. UV: max 238 nm (log 2.73) [Fehnel & Carmack J Am Chem Soc 71 90 1949, Fehér & Vogelbruch Chem Ber 91 996 1958, B.hme & Marz Chem Ber 74 1672 1941]. Oxidation with aqueous KMnO4 yields bis-(methylsulfonyl)methane which has m 142-143o [Fiecchi et al. Tetrahedron Lett 1681 1967]. [Beilstein 1 IV 3088.]
