Diphenyl disulfide is the chemical compound with the formula (C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>5</sub>S)<sub>2</sub>. This colorless crystalline material is often abbreviated Ph<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub>. It is one of the more commonly encountered organic disulfides in organic synthesis. Minor contamination by thiophenol is responsible for the disagreeable odour associated with this compound.
Diphenyl disulfide is usually prepared by the oxidation of thiophenol:
Hydrogen peroxide can also be used as the oxidant. Ph<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub> is rarely prepared in the laboratory because it is inexpensive, and the precursor has a disagreeable odour.
Like most organic disulfides, the CâÂÂSâÂÂSâÂÂC core of Ph<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub> is non-planar with a dihedral angle approaching 85ð.
Ph<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub> is mainly used in organic synthesis as a source of the PhS substituent. A typical reaction entails the formation of PhS-substituted carbonyl compounds via the enolate:
Ph<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub> undergoes reduction, a reaction characteristic of disulfides:
Hydride reagents such as sodium borohydride and super hydride can also be used as reductants. The salts PhSM are sources of the potent nucleophile PhS<sup>âÂÂ</sup>. Most alkyl halides, RX (X = halide) convert it to the thioethers with the general formula RSPh. Analogously, protonation of MSPh gives thiophenol:
Ph<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub> reacts with chlorine to give phenylsulfenyl chloride PhSCl (Zincke disulfide cleavage). This species is usually generated and used in situ. With xenon difluoride, Ph<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub> reacts to give phenylsulfur pentafluoride.
Ph<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub> catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of alkenes under UV-irradiation.
Oxidation of Ph<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub> with lead(IV) acetate (Pb(OAc)<sub>4</sub>) in methanol affords the sulfinite ester PhS(O)OMe.