Sodium Methallyl Sulfonate and Sodium Methylallyl Sulfonate are actually the same compound, just with different naming conventions. They share the same chemical structure (CH₂=C(CH₃)−CH₂−SO₃Na) and CAS number (1561-92-8).
Reason for the Naming Difference
- Methallyl vs. Methylallyl
- Methallyl refers specifically to CH₂=C(CH₃)−CH₂−, where the methyl group is directly attached to the double-bonded carbon (2-methyl-2-propenyl).
- Methylallyl typically refers to CH₂=CH−CH(CH₃)− (3-methyl-1-propenyl), but in this context, due to historical usage or occasional misuse, some literature may equate it with Methallyl.
- IUPAC Nomenclature
- The more precise name is Sodium 2-methyl-2-propene-1-sulfonate.
- However, in industry, it is commonly abbreviated as SMAS (Sodium Methallyl Sulfonate).
Practical Usage
- In the chemical industry, Sodium Methallyl Sulfonate is the more widely used term, particularly in applications such as polyacrylonitrile fiber modification, water treatment agents, and concrete superplasticizers.
- Sodium Methylallyl Sulfonate may occasionally appear in supplier catalogs or literature, but it generally refers to the same compound.
Conclusion
There is no chemical difference between the two—only a variation in naming. To avoid confusion, it is recommended to consistently use Sodium Methallyl Sulfonate (SMAS) in both research and industrial applications.
