Molar mass 77.17 g/mol | ||
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Trimethylsulfonium (systematically named trimethylsulfanium and trimethylsulfur(1+)) is an organic cation with the chemical formula (CH3)3S+ (also written as C
3H
9S+
). It is the simplest sulfonium cation.
Contents
Compounds
Several salts of trimethylsulfonium are known:
Preparation
Sulfonium compounds can be synthesised by treating a suitable alkyl halide with a thioether. For example, the reaction of dimethyl sulfide with iodomethane yields trimethylsulfonium iodide:
CH3–S–CH3 + CH3–I → (CH3)3SIRelated
An extra oxygen atom can bond to the sulfur atom to yield the trimethylsulfoxonium ion.
Use
Glyphosate herbicide is often supplied as a trimethylsulfonium salt. When mixed with aluminium bromide, or aluminium chloride or even hydrogen bromide, trimethylsulfonium bromide forms an ionic liquid, which melts at temperatures below standard conditions.