WHITE TO LIGHT YELLOW CRYSTALLINE POWDER
Trimethylsulfoxonium iodide is a sulfoxonium salt. It is used to generate dimethyloxosulfonium methylide by reaction with sodium hydride. The latter compound is used as a methylene-transfer reagent, and is used to prepare epoxides.
Trimethylsulfoxonium Iodide is used to synthesize methylene-transfer reagents that are used in the preparation of epoxides.
Treatment with strong base yields the ylide which adds to the carbonyl group of ketones1 and aldehydes2,3 to give epoxides. Also adds preferentially to the double bond of α,β-unsaturated esters to give cyclopropyl esters.4,5