What is Hinsberg reagent?

Explanation:

Benzyl sulfonyl chloride is alternatively or commonly referred to as the Hinsberg reagent.

It is named so because it is used in the Hinsberg test, which itself is named after German chemist Oscar Heinrich Daniel Hinsberg.

Hinsberg test is used for the detection and distinction of primary, secondary and tertiary amines in a sample of compounds.

The Hinsberg reagent is a colourless oil like substance with the chemical formula C₆H₅SO₂C1.

Hinsberg reagent is formed or prepared by the chlorination of benzene sulphonic acid with phosphorus oxychloride (POC1₃) or by reacting benzene with chloro sulphuric acid (HSO₃C1) as illustrated below:

The Hinsberg reagent differentiates between the three kinds of amine on the basis of the solubility of their products formed by reaction with Hinsberg reagent in an alkali.

The reactions shown with the three kinds of amines are and the nature of solubility is as given below:

Final Answer:

Thus, Benzenesulfonyl chloride, used as a reagent in the Hinsberg test to differentiate the three kinds of amines, is known as the Hinsberg reagent.