DFT Model of Elemental Sulfur in Sulfolane Solutions.

The structure and the thermodynamic and optical (UV) properties of elemental sulfur solution in sulfolane (Sl) have been studied using density functional theory methods. The cyclic molecular form of sulfur (S "crown") was found using PBE1PBE/6-311+G(d,p) approximation in combination with a polarizable continuum model (the integral equation formalism variant) to exist in sulfolane medium as a Sl-S-Sl solvate. It has been theoretically established that sulfur can form stable (S) clusters in concentrated solutions.