Rongalite

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Rongalite
Rongalite
IUPAC name Sodium hydroxymethanesulfinate
Other names Rongalite
Sodium formaldehydesulfoxylate
Identifiers
CAS number [149-44-0]
[6035-47-8] dihydrate
RTECS number PB0380000
SMILES C(O)S(=O)[O-].[Na+]
Properties
Molecular formula CH3NaO3S
Molar mass 118.10 g/mol
154.14 g/mol, dihydrate
Appearance colorless crystals
Density 1.75 g/cm3, dihydrate
Melting point

64.5 °C, dihydrate

Solubility in water 600 g/L, dihydrate (approximate)
Acidity (pKa) decomp. at low pH
Structure
Molecular shape pyramidal at S
Hazards
Main hazards non-toxic
R/S statement R: 36/37/38 S:26-36
Related compounds
Related compounds SO32-, CH2O
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Infobox disclaimer and references

Rongalite, also called Rongalit (registered trademark of BASF) is sodium hydroxymethylsulfinate, or Na+HOCH2SO2-. The salt has many names, including also sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate and Bruggolite. It is water-soluble and generally sold as the dihydrate.

Contents

[edit] Reactions

This salt is prepared from sodium dithionite:

Na2S2O4 + 2 CH2O + H2O → NaHOCH2SO3 + NaHOCH2SO2

This reaction proceeds quantitatively, such that dithionite can be determined by its conversion to rongalite, which is far less O2-sensitive and thus easier to handle.

NaHOCH2SO2 can essentially be considered to be a source of SO22-. As such it is used both as a reducing agent and as a reagent to introduce SO2 groups into organic molecules. Treatment of elemental Se and Te with NaHOCH2SO2 gives solutions containing the corresponding Na2Sex and Na2Tex, where x is approximately 2. As a nucleophile, NaHOCH2SO2 reacts with alkylating agents to give sulfones.

NaHOCH2SO2 + 2 C6H5CH2Br → [C6H5CH2]2SO2 + NaBr + CH2O + HBr

Occasionally, alkylation will occur also at oxygen, thus α,α' dibromoxylene gives both the sulfone and the isomeric sulfinate ester.

[edit] Use

The original use of the compound was as industrial bleaching agent and in textile dying. The other dominating use today is the application as reducing agent in redox-initiator systems for emulsion polymerization.

[edit] Zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate

The zinc complex Zn(HOCH2SO2]2 is marketed under the trademarks Decroline, Decolin, and Safolin. This compound is an additive in polymers and textiles.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Masciocchi, N.; Rigamonti, C. and Maspero, A., "Poly[di-μ3-hydroxymethanesulfinato-zinc(II)]", Acta Crystallographica Section E: Structure Reports Online, 2005, volume E61, m2683-m2685.
  • Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. "Inorganic Chemistry" Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.
  • L. Tschugaeff und W. Chlopin: Beiträge zur Kenntnis des Reduktionsvermögens der schwefligen Säure. I. Einwirkung von Natriumhydrosulfit auf Tellur und Selen" Chemische Berichte 1914, volume 47, pages 1269-1275.
  • R. Steudel, V. Munchow "Determination of dithionite (S2O22- and Hydroxymethanesulphinate (HOCH2SO2-; Rongalite) by Ion-Pair Chromatography" Journal of Chromatography, (1992) volume 623 174-I 77.