Benzyl mercaptan (C6H5CH2SH) is a kind of organosulfur compound. It is a commonly used alkaylthiol in the laboratory and is a naturally occurring compound. It has been found in boxwood and boost the smoky aroma in some kinds of wines. It is also naturally existed in coffee. It can be used as source of thiol functional group during the organic synthesis. In addition, it can also used as an odorant, synthetic flavor and as a bacteriostatic reagent. It is manufactured by the reaction of benzyl chloride and sodium hydrosulfide.
Cream to white, moist crystals; musty
odor. Insoluble in water; soluble in alcohol
or ether. There are three isomers with different
boiling points.
Benzyl mercaptan has repulsive, garlic-like odor. It oxidizes in air to dibenzyl disulfide.
Reported found in coffee.
Intermediate, bacteriostat.
Benzyl mercaptan can be used as:
- A nucleophilic reagent in the cleavage of proanthocyanidins into their constitutive subunits.
- A reactant in the synthesis of dithiocarboxylic esters in the presence of phosphorus pentasulfide as a catalyst.
- A modifier to functionalize the surface of CNT for enhanced interaction with Pt-nanoparticles.
ChEBI: Benzyl thiol is a thiol that is toluene in which one of the methyl hydrogens has been replaced by a sulfanyl group. It has a role as a plant metabolite. It is a thiol and a member of benzenes. It derives from a hydride of a toluene.
From benzyl chloride and potassium hydrosulfide.
Detection: 0.19 to 2.6 ppb.
Taste characteristics at 15 ppm: leek, horseradish, cabbage, green, tomato and coffee.
Poison by inhalation
and intraperitoneal routes. Moderately toxic
by ingestion. An eye irritant. Questionable
carcinogen with experimental tumorigenic
data. Flammable when exposed to heat or
flame. Can react vigorously with oxidizing
materials. To fight fire, use foam, CO2, dry
chemical, water spray, mist, fog. When
heated to decomposition and on contact
with acid or acid fumes it emits highly toxic
fumes of SOx. See also SULFIDES and
MERCAPTANS.
Purify benzyl mercaptan via the mercury salt [see Kern J Am Chem Soc 75 1865 1953], which crystallises from *benzene as needles (m 121o), and then dissolve it in CHCl3. Pass H2S gas through the solution to regenerate the mercaptan. The HgS that precipitates is filtered off and washed thoroughly with CHCl3. The filtrate and washings are evaporated to remove CHCl3; then the residue is fractionally distilled under reduced pressure [Mackle & McClean, Trans Faraday Soc 58 895 1962]. [Beilstein 6 IV 2632.]
