clear light yellow liquid after melting
1,2-Benzenedithiol is used in preparation of schiff base, which is employed to make new series of copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes.
The transition metal complexes with benzene-1,2-dithiol as ligand were studied by UV-vis, resonance Raman (rR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopies.
Likely impurities are the oxidation products, the disulfides which could be polymeric. Dissolve it in aqueous NaOH until the solution is alkaline. Extract with Et2O and discard the extract. Acidify with cold HCl (diluted 1:1 by volume with H2O) to Congo Red paper under N2 and extract it three times with Et2O. Dry the Et2O with Na2SO4, filter, evaporate and distil the residue under reduced pressure in an atmosphere of N2. The distillate solidifies on cooling. [UV: Dewar et al. J Chem Soc 3076 1958, Grunwald & Berkowitz J Am Chem Soc 81 4939 1951, Ferretti Org Synth Coll Vol V 419 1973, Beilstein 6 IV 5651.]