22Benzene14disulfonic

22Benzene14disulfonic, also known as benzene-1,4-disulfonic acid, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H4(SO3H)2. It is a disulfonic acid derivative of benzene, meaning that two sulfonic acid groups (-SO3H) are attached to the benzene ring. In this specific isomer, the sulfonic acid groups are located at opposite positions on the ring, referred to as the 1 and 4 positions.

This compound is typically a white crystalline solid. It is soluble in water and polar organic solvents due to the presence of the polar sulfonic acid groups. Benzene-1,4-disulfonic acid is a relatively strong acid, a property characteristic of sulfonic acids. It can undergo reactions typical of both aromatic compounds and sulfonic acids, such as electrophilic substitution on the benzene ring and reactions involving the acidic protons of the sulfonic acid groups.

The synthesis of benzene-1,4-disulfonic acid often involves the direct sulfonation of benzene under forcing conditions, where excess sulfuric acid or oleum is used, and higher temperatures are employed to favor disubstitution. Control of reaction conditions is crucial to obtain the desired 1,4-isomer as the primary product, as other isomers like the 1,2- and 1,3-disulfonic acids can also form.

Benzene-1,4-disulfonic acid and its salts have found applications in various fields. They can be used as intermediates in the synthesis of dyes and other organic chemicals. Due to their acidic nature and water solubility, they may also be employed as catalysts in certain organic reactions. Furthermore, they can be utilized in analytical chemistry and in the preparation of ion-exchange resins.