Chemical Properties
Diethyl sulfide is a colourless to pale yellow liquid with an ether-like aroma. Its boiling point is 92°C. It is insoluble in water but soluble in ethanol and oils.
Occurrence
Reported found in cabbage, sauerkraut, mustard, egg, chicken, beef, pork, beer (0.0002 to 0.0017 ppm), grape
brandy (cognac, armagnac, weinbrand).
Uses
Diethyl sulfide is used as a solvent for anhydrous mineral salts and in plating baths for coating metals with gold or silver. It is used as a flavoring agent. It is also used in the addition reaction with platinum dichloride to prepare platinum ethynyl dimers and polymers with pendant ferrocenyl group. Further, it is used in the preparation of triethylsulfoniuim ethylsulfate by reaction with sulfuric acid diethyl ester. In addition to this, it is used in the quantification procedure of volatile sulfur compounds by solid-phase microextraction.
Uses
Diethyl sulfide may be used as an analytical standard for the determination of the analyte in wastewater, wines, and beer by gas chromatography (GC) based techniques.
Uses
Solvent for Anhydrous mineral salts; in plating baths for coating metals with gold or silver.
Definition
ChEBI: Diethyl sulfide is an ethyl sulfide compound having two ethyl groups attached to a sulfur atom.
General Description
A colorless oily liquid with a garlic-like odor. Less dense than water. Flash point 20°F. Vapors heavier than air. May irritate skin and eyes. Used to make other chemicals.
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Slightly soluble in water.
Reactivity Profile
Organosulfides, such as 1,1'-Thiobisethane, are incompatible with acids, diazo and azo compounds, halocarbons, isocyanates, aldehydes, alkali metals, nitrides, hydrides, and other strong reducing agents. Reactions with these materials generate heat and in many cases hydrogen gas. Many of these compounds may liberate hydrogen sulfide upon decomposition or reaction with an acid.
Health Hazard
May cause toxic effects if inhaled or absorbed through skin. Inhalation or contact with material may irritate or burn skin and eyes. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.
Fire Hazard
HIGHLY FLAMMABLE: Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Most vapors are heavier than air. They will spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Vapor explosion hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers. Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard. Containers may explode when heated. Many liquids are lighter than water.
Safety Profile
Mildly toxic by
ingestion. A skin and eye irritant. A very
dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat,
flame, or sparks; can react vigorously with
oxidizers. Reacts with water, steam, acids, or
acid fumes to produce toxic and flammable
vapors. To fight fire, use water spray or
mist, dry chemical, CO2, foam. When heated
to decomposition it yields highly toxic
fumes of SOx. See also SULFIDES.
Purification Methods
Wash the sulfide with aqueous 5% NaOH, then water, dry with CaCl2 and distil it from sodium. It can also be dried with MgSO4 or silica gel. Alternative purification is via the Hg(II) chloride complex [(Et)2S.2HgCl2] (see dimethyl sulfide). [Beilstein 1 IV 1394.]
