Sulfuryl chloride is used as a chlorinating, sulfonating and chlorosulfonating agent. It is also used as a source of chlorine and acts as a reagent in the conversion of C-hydrogen to C-chlorine adjacent to activating substituent namely carbonyls and sulfoxides. As a chlorinating agent, it is involved in the chlorination of substrates like alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatics, tetrahydrofuran and epoxides. It finds application in the conversion of thiols or disulfides into their corresponding sulfenyl chlorides. It plays a vital role to treat wool to prevent shrinkage.
