This section provides an overview for thionyl chloride as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 thionyl chloride manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked thionyl chloride companies as of November, 2024: 1.Central Drug House, 2.RXChemicals, 3.Jigs chemical.
Table of Contents
Figure 1. Basic Information on Thionyl Chloride
Thionyl chloride is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor and fuming properties.
It is also known as sulfinyl chloride or thionyl chloride. Thionyl chloride, in liquid or vapor form, is toxic because it is harmful to skin and mucous membranes.
Thionyl chloride is classified as a "deleterious substance" under the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law, and as a "hazardous and noxious substance" and "hazardous and noxious substance requiring notification of name, etc." under the Industrial Safety and Health Law.
Thionyl chloride is used to replace hydroxyl and mercapto groups with chlorine atoms in the organic synthesis of dyes, medicine, and agricultural chemicals. Thionyl chloride can also be used to introduce sulfone groups by reacting with Grignard reagents. Other uses include use as a dehydrating agent to obtain anhydrous metal halides.
Thionyl chloride in liquid form is useful as a cathode active material in thionyl chloride lithium batteries. Thionyl lithium chloride batteries are widely used for backup of memory ICs, power supplies for electronic equipment, and power supplies for electricity, gas, and water meters.
Thionyl chloride has a fuming and pungent odor, a melting point of -104.5°C, and a boiling point of 76°C. It begins to decompose when heated above 140°C and decomposes completely only at 500°C. Decomposition of thionyl chloride yields sulfur dioxide (SO2), disulfur dichloride (S2Cl2), and chlorine (Cl2).
Thionyl chloride mixes with solvents such as benzene and chloroform. It also reacts with water in a vigorous exothermic reaction to form hydrogen chloride (HCl) and sulfur dioxide (SO2).
Figure 2. Detailed Structure of Thionyl Chloride
Thionyl chloride is a sulfurous acid chloride-like compound with the chemical formula SOCl2, a liquid with a molecular weight of 118.97 and a specific gravity of 1.65 g/cm3. The sulfur-oxygen bond (S-O) is approximately 143 pm and the sulfur-chlorine bond (S-Cl) is approximately 207 pm in length.
The thionyl chloride molecule has a triangular pyramidal shape. ∠O-S-Cl and ∠Cl-S-Cl are 107.4° and 96.5°, respectively.
Thionyl chloride is obtained by distillation of phosphoryl chloride (POCl3), which is produced by the reaction of phosphorus pentachloride (PCl5) with sulfur dioxide (SO2). Thionyl chloride can also be produced by the reaction of sulfur trioxide (SO3) with sulfur dichloride (SCl2).
Instead of sulfur trioxide, thionyl chloride can be produced by oxidation with fuming sulfuric acid (Oleum) or chlorosulfonic acid (ClSO3H). The reaction is easier when a catalyst such as antimony chloride is used.
Thionyl chloride can also be obtained by reacting a mixture of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and sulfur tetrachloride (SCl4) using an activated carbon catalyst and distilling the product.
Figure 3. Reaction of Thionyl Chloride With Alcohol
Thionyl chloride is often used to chlorinate carboxylic acids and alcohols. Unlike other halogenating agents, the products of the reaction are gases such as HCl and SO2, and thionyl chloride has a low boiling point, making it easy to remove from the reaction system.
In addition to that, chlorination of alcohols with thionyl chloride does not proceed in the SN1 or SN2 reactions as with other chlorinating agents. Therefore, the reaction occurs in a sterically preserved manner without Walden inversion. A four-membered ring transition state has been proposed as the reaction mechanism and is called the SNi mechanism.
It is recommended that thionyl chloride be stored in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place with the container tightly closed and away from moisture and direct sunlight. Hydrolysis occurs when exposed to moisture, and hydrochloric acid is formed when reacting violently.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Junsei Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1948 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of chemical reagents and chemical products, including commissioned synthesis of chemical products. Some of the products it makes include Sodium chloride solution, concentrated glycerin, calcium chloride, ascorbic acid, and nitric acid. The chemical products have a wide range of applications and can be used in pathological examination, as food additives, for analysis, and in the pharmaceutical industry. All its plants, including its research institute, are ISO4001 and ISO9001 certified, while its Saitama and Ibaraki plants are equipped with buildings that comply with GMP.
Kishida Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1924 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of reagents and high-purity chemicals and also does drug discovery support activities. Its product portfolio includes fine chemicals, research chemicals, ionic liquid, organic micro-analytical reagents, and chemical reagents for analysis. The products support several industries, including reagent business, battery material, drug discovery, and life science. The company is ISO 14001 certified and supplies several companies worldwide, including Meterion Advanced Chemicals Inc., Acros Organics, ChemBridge Corporation, Decon Laboratories, and InerBioScreen Ltd.
Millipore Sigma, formerly known as Sigma-Aldrich, was created in 175 through the merger of Sigma Chemical Company and Aldrich Chemical company and today is a subsidiary of Merck. Millipore Sigma is a life science and biotechnology company serving the industry with several products and services. Some of their product categories include peptide synthesis materials, biochemicals, building blocks, catalysts, chemical biology, chemical synthesis, flavors & fragrances, formulation, lab chemicals, lab safety, APIs, and stable isotopes. Services include characterization, contract manufacturing, custom products, software, support, testing, and mRNA development & manufacturing.
Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co. LTD., founded in 1944 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of functional chemicals, water-absorbing resins, and specialty gases. Some of its products include Aqua Keep, a super-absorbent resin produced using polymerization technology, and Aqua Coke, a nonionic polyalkylene oxide-based resin with water-absorbent properties. These resins find applications in various areas, such as in disposable diapers and as coagulants for wastewater treatment. The company was initially established for the production and sale of fertilizer. However, in 1981, it embarked on an expansion into functional resins, chemicals, and electronic gas businesses.
Nacalai Tesque Inc., founded in 1846 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of research chemicals, fine chemicals, diagnostics, and the related instruments. Some of its products include cytokines, nucleic acid electrophoresis, cell dissociation reagents, and sialic acid-related products, and it also offers custom and bulk service for bulk reagents and cell culture media. The company has more than 50 domestic distributors and several worldwide, including Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certified, while the Kyoto South brand and Tesque factory are ISO 14001 certified.
Shree Maruti Impex India was established in 2016 in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, as a manufacturer and supplier of chemicals. The product portfolio of the company encompasses toluene solvent, benzyl alcohol, liquid chlorine, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium chloride, among others. The chemicals are used to address low blood potassium levels, treat iron deficiency, disinfect water, bleach paper and fabric, remove stains, firm vegetables and tofu, and create caviar alternatives from fruit or vegetable liquids. The company serves various industries, including agriculture, water treatment, food, textiles, and research.
Jigs Chemical was established in 1998 and is based in India with global offices in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. Jigs Chemical is a manufacturer, distributor, and marketing & sales provider for organizations in India, specializing in chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients for pharmaceutical, agriculture, ceramics, metal treatment, and other industries. Jigs Chemical helps facilitate international customers to obtain chemicals from India, providing import and export assistance. Jigs Chemical’s product catalog includes over 40000 active pharmaceutical ingredients, commonly called APIs, their respective intermediates, and other chemicals.
Founded in 1981, Central Drug House Ltd. serves the scientific community via manufacturing and marketing a library of over 9,000 products to laboratory fine chemicals and dehydrated culture media with emphasis on purity and service. Examples are acids & bases, adsorbents, disinfectants, indicator papers, oils, and solvents. CDH provides bio chemicals, research chemicals, laboratory reagents, various solvents, stains & indicators, and dehydrated culture media. CDH is ISO 9001 certified and CDHs’ products are in compliance with specifications of IP, BP, USP, and EP standards.
RX Chemicals was founded in Mumbai, India, in 2011. RX Chemicals sells chemical-based products for many sectors including automobile, agriculture, airline, medicine, and accessories. Automobile products include carwash shampoo, compressor cleaner, and interior cleaners. Agricultural products include fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides. Airline products include exterior products such as deicing fluid, as well as interior products such as solvent cleaner. The company also provides a range of services including chemical inspection, logistics, chemical usage supervision, as well as tank cleaning.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Central Drug House |
20.4%
|
2 | RXChemicals |
11.5%
|
3 | Jigs chemical |
10.6%
|
4 | Shree Maruti Impex India |
9.7%
|
5 | M. K. Industrial Corporation |
9.7%
|
6 | Junsei Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
9.7%
|
7 | Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
9.7%
|
8 | MilliporeSigma |
8.8%
|
9 | nacalai |
5.3%
|
10 | SUMITOMO SEIKA CHEMICALS CO.,LTD. |
4.4%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the thionyl chloride page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
Japan | 3 | 50.0% |
India | 3 | 50.0% |
1 product is listed.
SUMITOMO SEIKA CHEMICALS CO.,LTD.
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