Benzenesulfonic acid

 ( Benzenesulfonates ) 

Benzenesulfonic acid (conjugate acid benzenesulfonate) is an organosulfur compound with the formula carbon₆hydrogen₆oxygen₃sulfur. It is the simplest aromaticity sulfonic acid. It forms white deliquescent sheet crystals or a white waxy solid that is soluble in water and ethanol, slightly soluble in benzene and insoluble in nonpolar solvents like diethyl ether. It is often stored in the form of alkali metal salts. Its aqueous solution is strong acid.

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Preparation and structure Benzenesulfonic acid is prepared from the sulfonation of benzene using concentrated sulfuric acid:

This conversion illustrates aromatic sulfonation, which has been called "one of the most important reactions in industrial organic chemistry".

As confirmed by X-ray crystallography, benzenesulfonic acid features tetrahedral sulfur attached to a planar phenyl ring. The C-S, S=O, and S-OH distances are respectively 1.75, 1.43 (avg), and 1.55 Å.

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Reactions Benzenesulfonic acid exhibits the reactions typical of other aromatic , forming sulfonamides, sulfonyl chloride, and esters. The sulfonation is reversed above 220 °C. Dehydration with phosphorus pentoxide gives benzenesulfonic acid anhydride ((C₆H₅SO₂)₂O). Conversion to the corresponding benzenesulfonyl chloride (C₆H₅SO₂Cl) is effected with phosphorus pentachloride.

It is a strong acid, being almost fully dissociated in water.

Benzenesulfonic acid and related compounds undergo desulfonation when heated in water near 200 °C. The temperature of desulfonation correlates with the ease of the sulfonation:

C₆H₅SO₃H + H₂O → C₆H₅OH + H₂SO₄

For that reason, sulfonic acids are usually used as a protecting group, or as a meta director in electrophilic aromatic substitution.

The alkali metal salt of benzenesulfonic acid was once used in the industrial production of phenol. The process, sometimes called alkaline fusion, initially affords the phenoxide salt:

C₆H₅SO₃Na + 2 NaOH → C₆H₅ONa + Na₂SO₃

C₆H₅ONa + HCl → C₆H₅OH + NaCl

The process has been largely displaced by the Hock process, which generates less waste.

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Uses Salts of benzenesulfonic acid such as sodium benzenesulfonate (Ludigol) and monoethanolamine benzenesulfonate are used as surfactants in laundry detergent.

A variety of pharmaceutical drugs are prepared as benzenesulfonate salts and are known as besilates (INN) or besylates (USAN).

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