The Radiation-induced Reactions of Benzene with Sulfur and Sulfur Compounds

Abstract

Abstract The irradiation of a benzene solution of sulfur gave thiophenol, diphenyl disulfide, diphenyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen and some polymers. The formation of thiophenol and of hydrogen sulfide is considered to be initiated by the radiolysis of benzene, which gives phenyl and hydrogen radicals, which in turn combine with sulfur in succeeding steps. However, the thiophenol formed is oxidized to the disulfide as the radiation energy absorbed in benzene transfers to thiophenol. The effect of the initial concentration of thiophenol and of the radiation dose has been measured. The relative stability of the S–H and C–S bond for radiation was about 1:200. The radiolysis of diphenyl disulfide or hydrogen sulfide in benzene were found to form thiophenol. In a kinetical study of the decomposition of thiophenol in benzene, 0.7 benzene molecule is excited by the 100 eV. of gamma rays absorbed, while the ratio between the energy transfer to thiophenol from excited benzene and the deactivation of excited benzene itself is about 100 to 1.