Spectral study of thione-thiol tautomerization of thiourea in aqueous alcohol solution

Abstract

In this work we studied the equilibrium of thione–thiol tautomerization by Raman and UV spectroscopies. This type of tautomerization influences on the course and direction of the reaction between thiourea and other organic compounds. The studies were carried out in water and aqueous alcohol medium. Мethanol, ethanol, propanol-1 and propanol-2 were used as alcohols. Hydrochloric acid was used to protonate thiourea in water and aqueous alcoholic solutions. UV spectroscopy made it possible to establish the tautomer ratio in water and aqueous alcohol solutions as the ratio of the intensities of absorption bands at 236 and 200 nm. There is an increase in the content of the thiol form and a decrease of the thione form observed in the row water-methanol-ethanol-propanol-isopropyl alcohol. The addition of hydrochloric acid to the thiourea water or aqueous alcohol solutions leads to the increase of the thione form and to the decrease of the thiol form in the composition. The thione form of thiourea can be determine by Raman spectra of –C=S group. The thiol form of thiourea is difficult to detect by Raman spectroscopy due to the overlap of the –S–H bond absorption band with alcohols absorption bands.