aliced25 - 24-5-2013 at 19:21
Sodium Formaldehyde Bisulfite, or Sodium Hydroxy Methanesulfonate is one hell of an interesting OTC chemical (used for dechlorination).
Anyone got any ideas on how to remove that pesky OH to form Methanesulfonic acid? Dehydration, chemical routes, chlorination, bromination (or
fluorination), or such-like? Just a simple question this time.
Nicodem - 25-5-2013 at 04:24
No simple and reasonable way. Like all the alpha-hydroxysulfonic acids, the hydroxymethanesulfonic acid also immediately decomposes, in this case to
formaldehyde, water and SO2 (only its salts are stable). Besides, its dehydration would not give methanesulfonic acid. Such a transformation would be
a reduction, not a dehydration.
Do you need methanesulfonic acid as a reagent? If so, ask yourself, if you really need it. There are few, if any, reactions where methanesulfonic acid
cannot be substituted for something else. Besides, methanesulfonic acid is easily acquired. It is not like it is in any way regulated. It's just a
sulfonic acid.
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