SO2Cl2 is prepared by the reaction of sulfur dioxide and chlorine in the presence of a catalyst, such as activated carbon.1
The product can be purified by fractional distillation.
Sulfuryl chloride was first prepared in 1838 by the French chemist Henri Victor Regnault.2
Older routes include oxidation of thionyl chloride:
Sulfuryl chloride reacts with water, releasing hydrogen chloride gas and sulfuric acid:
For sulfuryl chloride, this happens at room temperature, but the related sulfuryl fluoride does not hydrolyse at temperatures up to 150 °C.
SO2Cl2 will also decompose when heated to or above 100 °C, about 30 °C above its boiling point.
Upon standing, SO2Cl2 decomposes to sulfur dioxide and chlorine, which gives the older samples a slightly yellowish color.3
SO2Cl2 can be used as a source of chlorine in alkane chlorination, initiated by chemicals (usually a peroxide) or light:4
Sulfuryl chloride is used as a source of Cl2. Because it is a pourable liquid, it is considered more convenient than Cl2 to dispense.
Sulfuryl chloride is used in the conversion of C−H to C−Cl adjacent to activating substituents such as carbonyls and sulfoxides:56
It also chlorinates alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatics, ethers (such as tetrahydrofuran) and epoxides. Such reactions occur under free radical conditions using an initiator such as AIBN. It convert thiols or disulfides into the corresponding sulfenyl chlorides:7
Occasionally, sulfinyl chlorides result from such reactions.8 SO2Cl2 can also convert alcohols to alkyl chlorides. In industry, sulfuryl chloride is most used in producing pesticides. Phosphorus pentachloride is prepared by the reaction of white phosphorus with sulfuryl chloride.
Sulfuryl chloride can also be used to treat wool to prevent shrinking.
Sulfuryl chloride is toxic, corrosive, and acts as a lachrymator. It releases hydrogen chloride upon contact with water, as well as donor solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethylformamide.
F. Fehér (1963). "Sulfuryl Chloride". In G. Brauer (ed.). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Vol. 1. NY, NY: Academic Press. pp. 382–384. ↩
Regnault, Victor (1838). "Sur l'acide chlorosulfurique et la sulfamide" [On sulfuryl chloride and sulfamide]. Annales de Chimie et de Physique. Série 2 (in French). 69: 170–184. Reprinted as: Regnault, Victor (1839). "Ueber die Chlorschwefelsäure und das Sulfamid" [On sulfuryl chloride and sulfamide]. Journal für Praktische Chemie (in German). 18: 93–104. doi:10.1002/prac.18390180104. /wiki/Henri_Victor_Regnault ↩
Roberts JD, Caserio MC. "Practical Halogenations and Problems of Selectivity". Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Organic_Chemistry/Book%3A_Basic_Principles_of_Organic_Chemistry_(Roberts_and_Caserio)/04%3A_Alkanes/4.06%3A_Practical_Halogenations_and_Problems_of_Selectivity ↩
Mark Lautens, Giliane Bouchain (2002). "[4+3] Cycloaddition in Water. Synthesis of 2,4-endo,endo-Dimethyl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-one". Organic Syntheses. 79: 251. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.079.0251. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
Cragoe, Jr, Edward J.; Robb, Charles M. (1960). "3-Hydroxyquinoline". Organic Syntheses. 40: 54. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.040.0054. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
Barrett, Anthony G. M.; Dhanak, Dashyant; Graboski, Gregory G.; Taylor, Sven J. (1990). "(Phenylthio)Nitromethane". Organic Syntheses. 68: 8. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.068.0008. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
Page, P. C. B.; Wilkes, R. D.; Reynolds, D. (1995). "Alkyl Chalcogenides: Sulfur-based Functional Groups". In Ley, Steven V. (ed.). Synthesis: Carbon with One Heteroatom Attached by a Single Bond. Comprehensive Organic Functional Group Transformations. Elsevier. pp. 113–276. ISBN 9780080423234. 9780080423234 ↩