sulfone

[ suhl-fohn ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. any of a class of organic compounds containing the bivalent group –SO 2 –, united with two hydrocarbon groups.

sulfone

/ sŭl′fōn′ /

1. Any of various organic sulfur compounds having a sulfonyl group (SO 2 ) attached to two carbon atoms. Sulfones were formerly used to treat leprosy and tuberculosis, and are now used in making synthetic resins for wire coatings, automotive parts, and plumbing items.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sulfone¹

1870–75; < German Sulfon; sulfur, -one

Example Sentences

They fed pregnant female mice low doses of BPA, BPS, diphenyl sulfone, or a placebo.

From Science Magazine

As part of its Safe Drinking Water Act review, the EPA also examined levels of dimethoate; 1,3-dinitrobenzene; terbufos and terbufos sulfone in drinking water supplies.

From Washington Times

The sulfone drug Dapsone was the drug of choice starting in 1947, but increasing resistance is what prompted the WHO to introduce the current regimen, combining Dapsone with two other drugs.

From Slate

The annual commemoration was started 60 years ago to raise awareness for a disease that at the time infected almost 10 million people a year, was fast outwitting sulfone drugs, and for which a vaccine seemed impossible because leprosy germs cannot be grown in a test tube.

From Slate

This 2-substituted 5-nitroimidazole drug is rapidly oxidized in vivo in mice, dogs, and humans to sulfoxide and sulfone metabolites.

From Science Magazine