1,4-Butanedithiol is an

organosulfur compound Organosulfur chemistry is the study of the properties and synthesis of organosulfur compounds, which are organic compounds that contain sulfur. They are often associated with foul odors, but many of the sweetest compounds known are organosulfur der ...

with the formula . It is a malodorous, colorless liquid that is highly soluble in organic solvents. The compound has found applications in biodegradable polymers.

Reactions

Alkylation with geminal dihalides gives 1,3-di thiepanes. Oxidation gives the cyclic

disulfide In chemistry, a disulfide (or disulphide in British English) is a compound containing a functional group or the anion. The linkage is also called an SS-bond or sometimes a disulfide bridge and usually derived from two thiol groups. In inorg ...

1,2-dithiane: : It forms

self-assembled monolayer Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) are assemblies of organic molecules that form spontaneously on surfaces by adsorption and organize themselves into more or less distinct domains (head group, chain/backbone, and tail/end group). In some cases, mole ...

s on gold. It is also used in

polyaddition Polyaddition (or addition polymerisation ) is a polymerization reaction that forms polymers via individual independent addition reactions. Polyaddition occurs as a reaction between functional groups on molecules with low degrees of polymerizati ...

s along with 1,4-butanediol to form sulfur-containing

polyester Polyester is a category of polymers that contain one or two ester linkages in every repeat unit of their main chain. As a specific material, it most commonly refers to a type called polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Polyesters include some natura ...

and

polyurethane Polyurethane (; often abbreviated PUR and PU) is a class of polymers composed of organic chemistry, organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links. In contrast to other common polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene, polyurethane term ...

s containing

diisocyanate In organic chemistry, isocyanate is the functional group with the formula . Organic compounds that contain an isocyanate group are referred to as isocyanates. An organic compound with two isocyanate groups is known as a diisocyanate. Diisocyan ...

. Several of these polymers are considered

biodegradable Biodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. It is generally assumed to be a natural process, which differentiates it from composting. Composting is a human-driven process in which biodegrada ...

and many of their components are sourced from non-petroleum oils.

Related compounds

Dithiothreitol Dithiothreitol (DTT) is an organosulfur compound with the formula . A colorless compound, it is classified as a dithiol and a diol. DTT is redox reagent also known as Cleland's reagent, after W. Wallace Cleland. The reagent is commonly used in ...

1,3-Propanedithiol 1,3-Propanedithiol is the chemical compound with the formula HSCH2CH2CH2SH. This dithiol is a useful reagent in organic synthesis. This liquid, which is readily available commercially, has an intense stench. Reactions 1,3-Propanedithiol has be ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Butanedithiol, 1, 4- Reagents for organic chemistry Thiols Foul-smelling chemicals