The efficient conversion of H2S into mercaptan
alcohols mediated in protic ionic liquids under mild condition
Wenjie Xiong a, Mingzhen Shi a,
Xiaomin Zhang a,b,*, Zhuoheng Tu a,
Xingbang Hu a,b, Youting Wu a,b,*
a Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of MOE,
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University,
Nanjing 210023, P.R. China.
b Yuxiu Postdoctoral Institute, Nanjing University,
Nanjing 210023, P.R. China
* Corresponding author: xmzhang@nju.edu.cn; ytwu@nju.edu.cn
Keywords: Protic ionic liquids; H2S; epoxide;
solvent-free; conversion
Abstract: The resource utilization of hydrogen sulfide
(H2S) is an important and promising topic in energy
chemical engineering. The previous products developed in our group
through H2S conversion are sulfur or mercaptan acids.
Alternative way to convert H2S is still desirable.
Herein, we developed a green and mild method to convert
H2S into mercaptan alcohols by the addition reaction
with epoxide mediated in tertiary amine-functionalized protic ionic
liquids (PILs). Reaction kinetics, substrate scope, and regeneration
experiment have all been explored. Almost quantitative conversion of
substrates was realized with catalytic loading of PILs at 30 °C. Water
extraction was used to recycle the catalysts from the reaction system.
It is believed that the excellent results, together with its operational
simplicity and the ability to successively reuse the catalyst, make this
new methodology environmentally benign and cost-effective. The
generality of the H2S resource methodology gives it
potential for application on an industrial scale.