A high resolution powder X-ray diffraction study of the products of reaction of dimethyl sulfide with bromine; crystal and molecular structures of (CH3)2SBrn (n = 2, 2.5 or 4)

Abstract

The crystal and molecular structures of three reaction products formed between dimethyl sulfide and bromine have been characterised by high resolution powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Depending on the method of preparation, three compounds have been identified as (CH₃)₂SBr₂, (CH₃)₂SBr_2.5 and (CH₃)₂SBr₄. The first, synthesised by the addition of bromine to dimethyl sulfide, was isolated as a single phase and is a charge-transfer adduct. The other two, both containing (CH₃)₂SBr⁺-like species, were found coprecipitated when dimethyl sulfide was added to bromine at –30 °C.