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

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