Potassium ethylxanthate

Chemical Properties

Light Green Solid

Uses

Potassium ethyl xanthogenate (ethyl potassium xanthogenate) has been used:

• in synthesis of unsymmetrical sulfides via cross-coupling reaction, using recyclable CuO nanoparticles under ligand-free conditions
• as surfactant to investigate the adsorption of colloidal dye Disperse Blue 3 onto pretreated polyester fabric
• in determination of microgram amounts of cadmium in water samples by substoichiometric radiochemical method

Uses

Potassium ethyl xanthate is used as a reagent for extraction of metal ions into organic solvents and in the preparation of 2-mercapto benzimidazoles and 2-mercapto benzoxazoles by reacting with o-phenylenediamines and o-amino phenols respectively. It acts as a precursor in the production of unsymmetrical sulfides through cross-coupling reaction and as a floatation agent in the mining industry. It is involved in the determination of cadmium in water samples by substoichiometric radiochemical method and the adsorption of colloidal dye disperse Blue 3 onto pretreated polyester fabric.

Uses

As reagent in analytical chemistry.

Definition

Colorless or light-yellow crystals. Soluble in water and alcohol; insol- uble in ether.

Hazard

Toxic by ingestion.

Flammability and Explosibility

Highly flammable

Purification Methods

Crystallise it from absolute EtOH, ligroin/ethanol or acetone by adding Et2O. Wash it with ether, then dry it in a desiccator. Its solubility in Me2CO is 8% at 25o. [Beilstein 3 H 563, 3 I 196, 3 II 367, 3 III 1101, 3 IV 1274.]