Determination of sulphur functions with N-iodosuccinimide

Titrimetric determination of thioureas, thiols, xanthates and dithiocarbamates with N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) is described. The method for xanthate can be applied to carbon disulphide (converted into xanthate with potassium ethoxide). Acidic and non-aqueous solutions of the oxidizing agent are stable. The procedures are rapid and accurate to 0.1% with a precision of 0.2%. Hydrogen sulphide and thiocarbonyl compounds interfere. The behaviour of N-bromosuccinimide and NIS with thiols in aqueous medium is compared. It is shown that iodine is the oxidizing species in both cases. The limitations of iodine as a reagent for thiol determination are discussed. Cysteine, which cannot be determined with iodine, can be determined with NIS. The role of methanol in non-aqueous determination of thiols is discussed. Methanol accelerates the oxidation, which is otherwise slow in acetonitrile medium.