Ethanethiol

Preparation

Ethanethiol is prepared by the reaction of ethylene with hydrogen sulfide in the presence of various catalysts. It is also prepared commercially by the reaction of ethanol with hydrogen sulfide gas over an acidic solid catalyst, such as alumina.

Historic methods

Ethanethiol was originally reported by Zeise in 1834. Zeise treated calcium ethyl sulfate with a suspension of barium sulfide saturated with hydrogen sulfide. He is credited with naming the C2H5S- group as mercaptum.

Ethanethiol can also be prepared by a halide displacement reaction, where ethyl halide is treated with aqueous sodium bisulfide. This conversion was demonstrated as early as 1840 by Henri Victor Regnault.

Odor

Ethanethiol has a strongly disagreeable odor that humans can detect in minute concentrations. The threshold for human detection is as low as one part in 2.8 billion parts of air (0.36 parts per billion). Its odor resembles that of leeks, onions, durian or cooked cabbage.

Employees of the Union Oil Company of California reported first in 1938 that turkey vultures would gather at the site of any gas leak. After finding that this was caused by traces of ethanethiol in the gas it was decided to boost the amount of ethanethiol in the gas, to make detection of leaks easier.

Uses

Ethanethiol is intentionally added to butane and propane (see: LPG) to impart an easily noticed smell to these normally odorless fuels that pose the threat of fire, explosion, and asphyxiation.

In the underground mining industry, ethanethiol or ethyl mercaptan is referred to as "stench gas". The gas is released into mine ventilation systems during an emergency to alert mine workers. In Ontario, mining legislation dictates that "The alarm system in an underground mine shall, consist of the introduction into all workplaces of sufficient quantities of ethyl mercaptan gas or similar gas to be readily detectable by all workers".

Reactions

Main article: Thiol

Ethanethiol is a reagent in organic synthesis.

Ethanethiol can be oxidized to ethyl sulfonic acid, using strong oxidizing agents. Weaker oxidants, such as ferric oxide or hydrogen peroxide give the disulfide, diethyl disulfide: :2 EtSH + H2O2 → EtS-SEt + 2 H2O Like other thiols, it behaves comparably to hydrogen sulfide. For example, it binds, concomitant with deprotonation to "soft" transition metal cations, such as Hg2+, Cu+, and Ni2+ to give polymeric thiolato complexes, Hg(SEt)2, CuSEt, and Ni(SEt)2, respectively.

References

References

1. ''Merck Index'', 12th edition, hEllon and '''3771'''
2. "ICSC 0470 - ETHANETHIOL".
3. {{PGCH. 0280
4. {{IDLH. 75081. Ethyl mercaptan
5. (2001). "Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis".
6. (1988). "Kirk-Othmer Concise Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology". John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
7. Zeise, William Christopher. (1834). "Sur le Mercaptan; avec des Observations sur d'autres produits resultant de l'action des sulfovinates ainsi que de l'huile de vin, sur des sulfures metalliques". Annales de Chimie et de Physique.
8. Regnault, V. (1840). "Ueber die Einwirkung des Chlors auf die Chlorwasserstoffäther des Alkohols und Holzgeistes und über mehrere Punkte der Aethertheorie". Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie.
9. "Ethanethiol price,buy Ethanethiol - chemicalbook".
10. Gooley, Tristan. (21 May 2015). "The Walker's Guide to Outdoor Signs". Sceptre.
11. Nicholls, Henry. "The truth about vultures".
12. "Stench Gas". Zacon Ltd..
13. (24 July 2014). "Occupational Health and Safety Act: R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 854 MINES AND MINING PLANTS Sect. 26(6)(a)". Ontario Ministry of Labour.
14. Mirrington, R. N.. (1873). "Orcinol Monomethyl Ether".