[Cleaner]

How is sodium xylenesulfonate made? Can a laboratory make this on a small scale?

[Arkcon]

The classical method for the production of sulfonates is to start with the alkyl halide, and use sodium sulfite.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfonate#Sulfonate_salts  But there may be other industrial procedures.  Generally, if you only need a little bit, you just purchase it.

[clarkstill]

The classical method for the production of sulfonates is to start with the alkyl halide, and use sodium sulfite.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfonate#Sulfonate_salts

Only if you plan to do an SN2 at an sp2 carbon...

I think you'd just treat xylene with fuming sulfuric acid, then deprotonate it with a sodium base (e.g. NaOH).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatic_sulfonation

[lansuminc]

The commercial product is produced by sulfonation of industrial xylene which is a mixture of all 3 xylenes plus ethyl benzene. The product is neutralised with sodium hydroxide and either spray dried to get the solid or sold in aqueous solution. Fairly straightforward methods for any competent chemist.

[curiouscat]

The commercial product is produced by sulfonation of industrial xylene which is a mixture of all 3 xylenes plus ethyl benzene. The product is neutralised with sodium hydroxide and either spray dried to get the solid or sold in aqueous solution. Fairly straightforward methods for any competent chemist.

It's a surfactant isn't it? Or is it a phase transfer catalyst too?

Just curious.