Dimethyl Sulfoxide CAS No. 67-68-5

Product Description

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the colorless, odorless liquid with the simple formula (CH₃)₂SO, is a “universal solvent” whose extraordinary polarity, thermal stability and amphiphilicity let it dissolve almost anything, depress the freezing point of water to –60 °C, and release heat on ice; these properties underpin its dominance in petrochemical aromatics extraction, non-toxic antifreeze/de-icing formulations for fuels, coatings and aircraft, and its unrivaled role as a cryoprotectant that safely locks stem cells and whole blood at –200 °C by preventing intracellular ice. The same penetrating power makes it the spinning solvent of choice for acrylic fibers and aerospace-grade carbon fiber, while in medicine it serves as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic carrier that opens transdermal and even anti-cancer drug-delivery routes, earning it the popular epithet “miracle drug.” Continuous-flow synthesis is now propelling greener, safer production to meet surging demand from electronics, agrochemicals and advanced composites, ensuring that this single small molecule remains the connective tissue between heavy industry and the frontiers of life science.

Other Information

• Historical & Commercial Context: First approved for medical use in 1978; widely used in industrial, laboratory, and clinical settings.

• Natural Occurrence: Found in trace amounts in some plants (Basella alba, Manilkara zapota, Vitis vinifera) and as a bacterial metabolite (E. coli).

• Synonyms: Methylsulfinylmethane, DMSO, Rimso-50, Demasorb, etc.

Emerging Research & Innovations

• Photoreforming of Biomass: DMSO enables selective C3–C4 cleavage of glucose to value-added chemicals (e.g., glycerol) under photocatalytic conditions.

• Advanced Hydrogel Fabrication: DMSO-water binary solvents enable high-resolution 3D printing of hydrogels for soft robotics, wearables, and biomedical devices.

• MOF-Composite Photocatalysts: UiO-66@TiO₂ nanocomposites for efficient degradation of volatile sulfur compounds (e.g., DMS) in air purification.

• Homogeneous Polysaccharide Chemistry: Acidic DMSO systems allow dissolution and functionalization of pectin for drug delivery and smart materials.

• Dental Adhesion: DMSO pretreatment improves long-term bonding stability of universal adhesives to eroded dentin.

Synthesis and Production

Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) is industrially produced primarily by the catalytic oxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS). The main industrial synthesis routes include:

• From Methanol and Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S):

  1. DMS Synthesis: Methanol reacts with H₂S over a catalyst (e.g., γ-alumina) to produce dimethyl sulfide.

  2. Oxidation: DMS is oxidized using oxygen or nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), often with nitrogen oxides (NOx) as catalysts.

  3. Purification: Crude DMSO is refined via vacuum distillation to obtain high-purity product.

• From Dimethyl Sulfate:

  • Dimethyl sulfate reacts with sodium sulfide to yield DMS, which is then oxidized and purified as above.

Key Process Conditions:

• Oxidants: Air/oxygen or nitrogen dioxide.

• Catalysts: Nitrogen oxides (NOx) commonly used in liquid-phase oxidation.

• Temperature: Typically 60–80°C or higher under pressure.

• Purification: Vacuum distillation (boiling point ~189°C at atmospheric pressure).

Related Research:

• Photocatalytic degradation of DMS using UiO-66@TiO₂ nanocomposites has been explored for environmental remediation of sulfurous pollutants.