Dimethyl disulfide


Dimethyl disulfide is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula CH3SSCH3 which is the simplest disulfide. It is a flammable liquid with an unpleasant, garlic-like odor.

Occurrence

Dimethyl disulfide is a widespread natural odoriferous compound emitted from many sources such as bacteria, fungi, plants and animals. It is an oxidation product of methanthiol in air.
Along with dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl trisulfide it has been confirmed as volatile compounds given off by the fly-attracting plant known as dead-horse arum. These flies are attracted to the odor of fetid meat, they help pollinate this plant.
DMDS can be produced by the oxidation of methanethiol, e.g. with iodine:

Chemical reactions

Important reactions include chlorination giving methanesulfenyl chloride, methanesulfinyl chloride, and methanesulfonyl chloride as well as oxidation with hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid giving the thiosulfinate methyl methanethiosulfinate.

Uses

DMDS is used as a food additive in onion, garlic, cheese, meats, soups, savory flavors, and fruit flavors. Industrially, DMDS is used in oil refineries as a sulfiding agent. DMDS is also an effective soil fumigant in agriculture, registered in many states in the U.S. as well as globally. In this capacity, DMDS is an important alternative in replacing methyl bromide, which is being phased out, however less effective than the former. This pesticide is marketed as "Paladin" by Arkema.

Food use

DMDS is used to alpha substitute 2-methylfuran-acrolein to produce a food stuff used in concentrations from 0.02 ppm up to 50 ppm.

Industrial use

DMDS is a stable pale yellow liquid which works as an effective product for because of its high sulfur content and low decomposition temperature. Most refineries utilize DMDS instead of other sulfur spiking agents for catalyst sulfiding because it has more sulfur per pound than dimethyl sulfide or Once injected to a hydrotreater or hydrocracker, DMDS decomposes to form H2S. The H2S reacts with the metal oxides on the catalyst, converting them to the active metal sulfide form.
DMDS also works as an effective product for operators in the petrochemicals industry who must protect their steam-cracking coils against the formation of coke and carbon monoxide.
DMDS is utilized in the preparation of 4-phenol which is used in the production of various pesticides. DMDS and chlorine are reacted with borontriflouride phenolate to produce 4-phenol. Thiophene and DMDS are blended with combustible hydrocarbon fuel gas to impart a gassy odor to the fuel gas.