| Description | Dibutyl sulfide (also named as butyl sulfide; N-butyl sulfide; Di-n-butyl sulfide; butylthiobutane), a colorless to pale yellow clear liquid, is a symmetric thioether. Dibutyl sulfide is found in raw cabbage, boiled and cooked beef, and some varieties of mushroom.
Dibutyl sulfide is typically used as a flavoring agent. As a thioether, dibutyl sulfide has applications in organic synthesis as a solvent as well as a reagent. It is used to synthesize specific compound classes including property-enhancing additives, pharmacological drugs, chemical resistant polymers, detergents, and rubber antioxidants. Dibutyl sulfide can also be used as an agricultural intermediate, a sulfiding agent, a refinery catalyst, a lubricant additive, a gas odorant, and a processing aid in mining applications. Furthermore, it can be used as an internal standard in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) measurements of sulfur in oils and other liquid hydrocarbon matrices.
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| References | [1] George A. Burdock (1996) Encyclopedia of Food and Color Additives, Band 1
[2] http://chemicalland21.com/specialtychem/NH/DIBUTYL%20SULFIDE.htm
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| Chemical Properties | colourless liquid with a very unpleasant smell |
| Chemical Properties | Butyl sulfide has an herbaceous, green, garlic, onion, heavy odor. |
| Occurrence | Reported found in raw cabbage, cooked beef and mushrooms. |
| Uses | Di-n-butyl sulfide is generally used as an agricultural intermediate, a sulfiding agent, a refinery catalyst, a lubricant additive, a gas odorant and a processing aid in mining applications. It finds application as an internal standard in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) measurements of sulfur in oils and other liquid hydrocarbon matrices. |
| Preparation | From butyl bromide and sodium sulfide in boiling ethanol; according to some authors two forms exist, exhibiting different
boiling points but identical solubilities in various solvents; both forms are insoluble in water. |
| Definition | ChEBI: Dibutyl sulfide is an aliphatic sulfide. |
| Aroma threshold values | Recognition: 0.88 ppb |
| Synthesis Reference(s) | Journal of the American Chemical Society, 73, p. 2251, 1951 DOI: 10.1021/ja01149a096
Tetrahedron Letters, 29, p. 4477, 1988 DOI: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)80527-4 |
| General Description | Butyl sulfide is a volatile sulfur compound that can be used as a flavoring agent. |
| Biochem/physiol Actions | Taste at 5 ppm |
| Purification Methods | Wash the sulfide with aqueous 5% NaOH, then water. Dry with CaCl2 and distil it from sodium. [Beilstein 1 IV 1559.] |
