Methods of converting ditertiary organic sulfides to ditertiary organic disulfides

A method comprising contacting at least one ditertiary organic sulfide of the formula ##STR6## wherein each R may be the same or different radical selected from the group consisting of (1) hydrocarbyl radicals containing one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of ##STR7## and halogens, wherein R" is a hydrocarbyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and (2) hydrocarbyl radicals, with at least one hydrocarbyl sulfoxide of the formula ##STR8## wherein each R' may be the same or different alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms or wherein the two such R' groups are combined to form a cyclic ring containing the sulfur atom and at least 4 carbons in the cyclic ring, in the presence of a reaction promoting amount of at least one protonic acid, wherein the temperature, the pressure, said at least one organic sulfide, said at least one hydrocarbyl sulfoxide and the amounts thereof are such that at least one ditertiary organic disulfide is produced.

A method comprising contacting at least one ditertiary organic sulfide of the formula ##STR9## wherein each R may be the same or different hydrocarbyl radical, with at least one hydrocarbyl sulfoxide of the formula ##STR10## wherein each R' may be the same or different alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms or wherein the two such R' groups are combined to form a cyclic ring containing the sulfur atom and at least 4 carbons in the cyclic ring, in the presence of a reaction promoting amount of at least one protonic acid, said contacting being conducted at a temperature in the range of about 40.degree. C to about 250.degree. C under reaction conditions such that at least one ditertiary organic disulfide is produced.