Method of preparing tetraalkyl thiuram disulfides

A method of preparing tetramethyl thiuram disulfide which consists essentially of (A) reacting dimethylamine with carbon disulfide at a temperature in the range of about 30.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C. in a solution of a solvent of 10-100 weight percent alcohol selected from at least one of methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or t-butyl alcohol, and correspondingly, 90-0 weight percent water, then (B) oxidizing the dithiocarbamate formed by the dimethylamine/carbon disulfide reaction at a temperature in the range of about 0.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C., but not appreciably above the boiling point of the alcohol, substantially immediately after the addition of said dimethylamine, by the addition of hydrogen peroxide while (C) maintaining the acid-base condition of said solution only as the condition generated by the reactants and products themselves;

• where the mole ratio of the dimethylamine to carbon disulfide is in the range of about 0.8/1 to aboout 1/1 and where the mole ratio of peroxide to dithiocarbamate is in the range of about 0.3/1 to about 0.7/1.