: Structure of diethyl dixanthogen disulfide. Dixanthogen disulfides are a class of

organosulfur compound Organosulfur compounds are organic compounds that contain sulfur. They are often associated with foul odors, but many of the sweetest compounds known are organosulfur derivatives, e.g., saccharin. Nature abounds with organosulfur compounds—sulfu ...

s with the formula . Usually yellow solids, they are the product of the oxidation of

xanthate 150px, Sodium salt of ethyl xanthate Xanthate usually refers to a salt with the formula (R = alkyl; M+ = Na+, K+), thus they are the metal-thioate/''O''-esters of dithiocarbonate. The name ''xanthates'' is derived from Ancient Greek ''xanthos'' ...

salts. A common derivative is

diethyl dixanthogen disulfide Diethyl dixanthogen disulfide is the organosulfur compound with the formula . It is one of the most common dixanthogen disulfides, compounds of the type (R = alkyl). A yellow solid, It is obtained by oxidation of sodium ethylxanthate or potassi ...

. Diisopropyl dixanthogen disulfide is commercially available. They are structurally related to

thiuram disulfide Thiuram disulfides are a class of organosulfur compounds with the formula (R2NCSS)2. Many examples are known, but popular ones include R = Me and Et. They are disulfides obtained by oxidation of the dithiocarbamates. These compounds are used i ...

Uses and reactions

Diethyl dixanthogen disulfide is a component for

froth flotation Froth flotation is a process for selectively separating hydrophobic materials from hydrophilic. This is used in mineral processing, paper recycling and waste-water treatment industries. Historically this was first used in the mining industry, wher ...

s used, inter alia, for the separation of sulfide minerals like

pyrrhotite Pyrrhotite is an iron sulfide mineral with the formula Fe(1-x)S (x = 0 to 0.2). It is a nonstoichiometric variant of FeS, the mineral known as troilite. Pyrrhotite is also called magnetic pyrite, because the color is similar to pyrite and it is ...

. Diisopropyl dixanthogen disulfide is a

reagent In chemistry, a reagent ( ) or analytical reagent is a substance or compound added to a system to cause a chemical reaction, or test if one occurs. The terms ''reactant'' and ''reagent'' are often used interchangeably, but reactant specifies a ...

in the synthesis of sulfur

heterocycle A heterocyclic compound or ring structure is a cyclic compound that has atoms of at least two different chemical element, elements as members of its ring(s). Heterocyclic chemistry is the branch of organic chemistry dealing with the synthesis ...

s. Dialkoxy dixanthogen disulfides undergo desulfurization by cyanide to give bis(alkoxythiocarbonyl)sulfides: : Dixanthogens are also

ectoparasiticide An ectoparasiticide is an antiparasitic drug used in the treatment of ectoparasitic infestations. These drugs are used to kill the parasites that live on the body surface. Permethrin, sulfur, lindane, dicophane, benzyl benzoate, ivermectin and crot ...

References

Thiocarbonyl compounds Sulfur Functional groups Dermatologic drugs {{antiinfective-drug-stub