Question

Sodium hydroxymethanesulfonates is used as which sulfonating agent?

(a) Sulfoalkylation

(b) Sulfomethylation

(c) Sulfochlorination

(d) None of the mentioned

The question was posed to me during an interview.

I would like to ask this question from Sulfoxidation topic in division Sulfonation and Sulfation of Unit Processes

Answer 1

Correct choice is (b) Sulfomethylation

For explanation I would say: Sulfomethylation, here Sodium hydroxymethanesulfonates (“aldehyde bisulfite”) are used to sulfomethylate on reactive carbon atoms (e.g., in phenols or ketones) or on nitrogen (i.e., amines, amides, or sulfoamides).