Table of Physical Properties of Common Organic Sulfur Compounds

Organosulfur compounds, which include the classes of mercaptans, sulfides, disulfides, and thiophenes, have unique physical properties such as boiling point, melting point, molecular weight, and density. Each class of sulfur-containing compounds has a unique structure that affects its physical properties. Understanding these properties supports both theoretical studies and practical applications where sulfur compounds are involved in reaction mechanisms, synthetic processes, and functional additives.

Alfa Chemistry has provided physical data for some of the organosulfur compounds in the table below for reference. The boiling and melting points for these sulfur compounds are determined at atmospheric pressure (1 atm or 760 mm Hg). These measurements reflect the point at which the compounds transition from liquid to gas (boiling point) and from solid to liquid (melting point). For compounds where boiling points at 1 atm were unavailable, values have been estimated based on low-pressure measurements, adjusted using enthalpies of vaporization (54-70 kJ/mol) to account for the progressive increase in boiling points observed with higher molecular weights.

Group	IUPAC Name	Common Name	C	H	S	Molweight (g/mol)	Melting Point (℃)	Boiling Point (℃)	Density (@20 ℃ g/ml)
1-Thiol	Methanethiol	Methyl mercaptan	1	4	1	48.11	-123	6	0.866
1-Thiol	Ethanethiol	Ethyl mercaptan	2	6	1	62.13	-148	35	0.835
1-Thiol	1-Propanethiol	Propyl mercaptan	3	8	1	76.16	-113	68	0.841
1-Thiol	1-Butanethiol	Butyl mercaptan	4	10	1	90.19	-116	98	0.842
1-Thiol	1-Pentanethiol	Pentyl mercaptan	5	12	1	104.21	-76	127	0.844
1-Thiol	1-Hexanethiol	Hexyl mercaptan	6	14	1	118.24	-81	153	0.842
1-Thiol	1-Heptanethiol	Heptyl mercaptan	7	16	1	132.27	-43	177	0.843
1-Thiol	1-Octanethiol	Octyl mercaptan	8	18	1	146.29	-49	199	0.843
1-Thiol	1-Nonanethiol	Nonyl mercaptan	9	20	1	160.32	-20	220	0.846
1-Thiol	1-Decanethiol	Decyl mercaptan	10	22	1	174.35	-25	240	0.844
1-Thiol	1-Undecanethiol	Undecyl mercaptan	11	24	1	188.37	-2	257	0.845
1-Thiol	1-Dodecanethiol	Dodecyl mercaptan	12	26	1	202.4	-7	277	0.844
1-Thiol	1-Tetradecanethiol	Tetradecyl mercaptan	14	30	1	230.45	7	309*	0.85
1-Thiol	1-Hexadecanethiol	Cetyl mercaptan	16	34	1	258.51	19	350*
Branched thiol	2-Propanethiol	Isopropyl mercaptan	3	8	1	76.16	-131	53	0.814
Branched thiol	2-Butanethiol	sec-Butyl mercaptan	4	10	1	90.19	-165	85	0.83
Branched thiol	2-Pentanethiol	sec-Pentyl mercaptan	5	12	1	104.21	-169	113	0.833
Branched thiol	3-Pentanethiol	3-Pentyl mercaptan	5	12	1	104.21	-111	116	0.841
Branched thiol	Benzenethiol	Phenyl mercaptan	6	6	1	110.18	-15	169	1.078
Branched thiol	2-Hexanethiol		7	8	1	118.24	-147	139	0.835
Linear sulfide	Dimethyl sulfide	2-Thiapropane	2	6	1	62.13	-98	37	0.848
Linear sulfide	Ethyl methyl sulfide		3	8	1	76.16	-106	67	0.842
Linear sulfide	Diethyl sulfide	Ethyl sulfide	4	10	1	90.19	-104	92	0.836
Linear sulfide	Methyl propyl sulfide		4	10	1	90.19	-113	96	0.842
Linear sulfide	Ethyl propyl sulfide		5	12	1	104.21	-117	119	0.837
Linear sulfide	Butyl methyl sulfide		5	12	1	104.21	-98	123	0.843
Linear sulfide	Dipropylsulfide		6	14	1	118.24	-103	143	0.838
Linear sulfide	Butyl ethyl sulfide		6	14	1	118.24	-95	144	0.838
Linear sulfide	Methyl pentyl sulfide		6	14	1	118.24	-94	148	0.843
Linear sulfide	Dibutyl sulfide	Butyl sulfide	8	18	1	146.29	-75	188	0.839
Linear sulfide	Ethyl 1-octyl sulfide	1-(Ethylthio)octane	10	22	1	174.35		225*
Linear sulfide	Dipentyl sulfide		10	22	1	174.35	-51	229	0.841
Linear sulfide	Dihexyl sulfide	Hexyl sulfide	12	26	1	202.4		260	0.841
Linear sulfide	Diheptyl sulfide	Heptyl sulfide	14	30	1	230.45	-11	298	0.842
Linear sulfide	Dioctyl sulfide	Octyl sulfide	16	34	1	258.51	-1	338*	0.844
Branched sulfide	Isopropyl methyl sulfide		4	10	1	90.19	-101	85	0.829
Branched sulfide	Tert-butyl methyl sulfide		5	12	1	104.21		99	0.83
Branched sulfide	Ethyl isopropyl sulfide		5	12	1	104.21	-122	107	0.825
Branched sulfide	Diallyl sulfide		6	10	1	114.21	-85	138	0.893
Branched sulfide	Diisopropyl sulfid		6	14	1	118.24	-78	120	0.814
Branched sulfide	Tert-butyl ethyl sulfide		6	14	1	118.24	-86	120	0.82
Branched sulfide	Isopropyl propyl sulfid		6	14	1	118.24		132	0.827
Branched sulfide	Methyl tert-pentyl sulfide		6	14	1	118.24		150	0.84
Branched sulfide	Methyl phenyl sulfide	Methyl thiobenzene, Thianisole	7	8	1	124.2	-15	188	1.057
Branched sulfide	Phenyl vinyl sulfide	(Phenylthio)ethylene	8	8	1	136.21		180	1.044
Branched sulfide	Ethyl phenyl sulfide	Ethyl thiobenzene	8	10	1	138.23		204	1.023
Branched sulfide	Di-tert-butyl sulfide		8	18	1	146.29	-9	152	0.819
Branched sulfide	Di-sec-butyl sulfide		8	18	1	146.29		167	0.835
Branched sulfide	Diisobutyl sulfid		8	18	1	146.29	-106	173	0.829
Branched sulfide	Allyl phenyl sulfide		9	10	1	150.24		224	1.024
Branched sulfide	Diisopentyl sulfid		10	22	1	174.35	-75	211	0.832
Branched sulfide	Diphenyl sulfide	Phenyl sulfide	12	10	1	186.27	-15	294	1.114
Branched sulfide	Dibenzyl sulfide	Benzyl sulfide	14	14	1	214.33	48	335	1.058
Disulfid	Dimethyl disulfide	DMDS	2	6	2	94.2	-85	110	1.063
Disulfid	Diethyl disulfide		4	10	2	122.25	-102	154	0.993
Disulfid	Diallyl disulfide	DADS Garlicin	6	10	2	146.27		180	1.01
Disulfid	Diisopropyl disulfid		6	14	2	150.31	-69	177	0.944
Disulfid	Dipentyl disulfide		10	22	2	206.41
Disulfid	Dihexyl disulfide		12	26	2	234.46
Disulfid	Diheptyl disulfide		14	30	2	262.52
Disulfid	Dioctyl disulfide		16	34	2	290.57
Disulfid	Dipropyl disulfide		6	14	2	150.31	-85	196	0.96
Disulfid	Di-tert-butyl disulfide		8	18	2	178.36	-3	180*	0.923
Disulfid	Dibutyl disulfide		8	18	2	178.36		236	0.938
Disulfid	Di-phenyl disulfide		12	10	2	218.34	60	310	1.353
Disulfid	Di-cyclohexan disulfide		12	22	2	230.43		340*	1.049
Disulfid	Di-2-napthyl disulfide		20	14	2	318.46	139		1.144
Thiophene	Thiophene	Thiofurane	4	4	1	84.14	-38	84	1.065
Thiophene	2,3-Dihydrothiopene		4	6	1	86.16		112
Thiophene	2,5-Dihydrothiopene		4	6	1	86.16		122
Thiophene	Tetrahydrothiophene	Thiolane, Thiophane, Thiacyclopentane	4	8	1	88.17	-96	121	0.999
Thiophene	2-Methylthiophene		5	6	1	98.17	-63	113	1.019
Thiophene	3-Methylthiophene		5	6	1	98.17	-69	115	1.022
Thiophene	2,5-Dimethtylthiophene		6	8	1	112.19		134	0.987
Thiophene	2-Ethylthiophene		6	8	1	112.19	76	136	0.993
Thiophene	2,3-Dimethtylthiophene		6	8	1	112.19	-49	142	1.007
Thiophene	Tetrahydro-2,5-dimethyl-thiophene		6	12	1	116.22	-89	143	0.922
Thiophene	2-Propylthiophene		7	10	1	126.22		158	0.984
Thiophene	Benzothiophene	Thianaphthene	8	6	1	134.2	31	221	1.156
Thiophene	3-Methylbenzothiophene		8	6	1	134.2		233*	1.108
Thiophene	2-Butylthiophene		8	12	1	140.25		179	0.954
Thiophene	2-Methylbenzo[b]thiophene	2-Methylthianaphthene	9	8	1	148.22	49
Thiophene	2-Phenylthiophene		10	8	1	160.24	35	256
Thiophene	Dibenzothiophene		12	8	1	184.26	99	332	1.252
Thiophene	4-Methyldibenzothiophene		13	10	1	198.28	65	298
Thiophene	4,6-Dimethyldibenzothiophene		14	12	1	212.31	153
Thiophene	Benzonaphtho[2,1-d]thiophene		16	10	1	234.32	189
Thiophene	4,6-Diethyldibenzothiophene		16	16	1	240.36	49

* Values estimated for 1 atm from low pressure measurements.

Classes of Organic Sulfur Compounds

• Thiols (Mercaptans) - Thiols are sulfur analogs of alcohols, containing an -SH functional group attached to a carbon atom. This group is known for its strong odor and reactivity. Due to the polarity introduced by the sulfur atom, thiols typically exhibit lower boiling points relative to similar molecular weight alcohols but are higher than hydrocarbons. The unique properties of thiols are crucial in their roles as reducing agents, flavoring agents, and intermediates in chemical synthesis.
• Sulfides -Sulfides consist of two alkyl or aryl groups bound to a sulfur atom, often resulting in moderate boiling and melting points. Sulfides are significant in organic synthesis, particularly as intermediates and in the formation of more complex sulfur compounds. Their boiling points are typically higher than thiols but vary depending on the alkyl or aryl groups attached to the sulfur atom.
• Disulfides - Characterized by two sulfur atoms covalently bonded between two carbon atoms, disulfides play a critical role in biochemistry (e.g., stabilizing protein structures) and are used industrially for their crosslinking properties. They exhibit higher boiling points and melting points than sulfides and thiols due to the added sulfur atom, which increases intermolecular forces.
• Thiophenes - Thiophenes are heterocyclic compounds with a sulfur atom incorporated within a five-membered ring. Known for their aromaticity, thiophenes are stable, display moderate boiling and melting points, and are widely used in the synthesis of dyes, pharmaceuticals, and conducting polymers. Their structure imparts unique electronic properties that are exploited in various advanced material applications.