The liberation of methyl sulphide by seaweed

Abstract

The peculiar and penetrating odor evolved from freshly gathered samples of the 2 red algae Polysiphonia fastigiata and P. nigrescens was shown to be due to a substance identified as methyl sulphide (Me2S) by drawing air over the cut up weed contained in a flask; the issuing gas, after drying, was passed into a soln. of Br in CC14, when amber yellow crystals m.p. 93-94[degree] were obtained; these were shown by a mixed m.p. to be identical with the crystals obtained under similar conditions from an authentic sample of methyl sulphide. The presence of methyl sulphide was further confirmed by the preparation of the characteristic Hg and platinum double chlorides.