FORMATION OF HYDROQUINONE-DISULPHUR MONOXIDE CLATHRATE

Hydroquinone is well known to form clathrates with sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. The molecular parameters of sulphur monoxide are found to be very close to the molecular parameters of the sulphur dioxide. It was, therefore, of interest to investigate whether disulphur monoxide also would give rise to a clathrates compound with hydroquinone. The formation of such a Compound and its identification is reported in this paper A deep yellow solution of disulphur monoxide in carbon tetrachloride is obtained by passing the products of low pressure combustion of sulphur in oxygen (5-7 mm. o fHg.) into the chilled solvent kept at -20"C The yellow solution of lower oxide could be freed from sulphur dioxide wifh the help of a vacuum pump. When the solution is shaken with a dilute solution of hydroquinone in a mixture of carbon tetrachloride and n-propyl alcohol, a pale yellow solid separates out. The dry ,valid is analysed for the sulphur oxide and hydroquimne contents by a variety of methods Hydrolytic, oxidative and reduction procedures have been employed for qantitative evaluation of tile clathrate. IR and X-ray methods hare been helpful in identifying the compounds.