The Reaction of OH Radicals with Dimethyl Sulfoxide. A Comparative Study of Fenton's Reagent and the Radiolysis of Aqueous Dimethyl Sulfoxide Solutions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00240a025

The reaction of OH radicals with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in aqueous solutions was investigated.The OH radicals were produced via radiolysis of N2O saturated aqueous solutions and via Fenton's reagent.With Fenton's reagent we observed a quantative conversion of OH radicals to CH3 radicals, giving CH4 and C2H6.The maximum yield in the radiolysis experiments was 86percent.In both case C2H6 was a major product with the C2H6/CH4 ratio as high as 45.The C2H6/CH4 ratio depends on the steady-state concentration of CH3 radicals and on the DMSO concentration.Our results show that CH3 radicals in addition to abstracting hydrogen from methanesulfinic acid also abstract hydrogen from DMSO to give CH4.In the radiolysis of deuteriated DMSO we observed a much higher ethane/methane ratio than in the nondeuteriated DMSO.This isotope effect supports the hydrogen abstraction from DMSO by CH3 radicals.