HETEROGENEOUS PERMANGANATE OXIDATION OF THIOLS

The products that may be obtained from the oxidation of thiols by perm anganate under heterogeneous conditions have been compared with those that are known to be produced by use of the same oxidant under homogen eous conditions. The products obtained from the oxidation of thiols un der homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions are distinctively differe nt. Sulfonic acids are obtained under homogeneous conditions, while di sulfides are the only detectable products when the reactions are carri ed out heterogeneously. For example, a quantitative yield of dibutyl d isulfide is obtained from the oxidation of butane-1-thiol, and oxidati on of pentane-1,5-dithiol gives the corresponding cyclic disulfide, 1, 2-dithiepane.