Improvements in or relating to polysulphides

A polysulphide is prepared by reacting a solution of a primary, secondary or tertiary amine free from hetero atoms other than nitrogen or an alkaloid with sulphur at a pressure of 3-60 atmospheres and a temperature of 100-300 DEG C. The reaction may be carried out in the presence of barium sulphide, calcium sulphide, sulphur monochloride, or halogen as catalyst. The nitrogenous base may be dissolved in water, an alcohol, an ether, benzene, methylene chloride, or trichloroethylene. The examples describe the treatment of dimethylamine, triethanolamine, strychnine and brucine.ALSO:Ammonium polysulphide is prepared by reacting a solution of ammonia with sulphur at a pressure of 3-60 atmospheres above atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 100 DEG -300 DEG C. The reaction may be carried out in the presence of barium sulphide, calcium sulphide, sulphur monochloride, or halogen as catalyst. The ammonia may be dissolved in water, an alcohol, an ether, benzene, chlorobenzene, methylene chloride or trichloroethylene. In the example ammonium hexasulphide is produced by carrying out the reaction at 135 DEG C. and a pressure of 5 atmospheres excess pressure in the presence of a fatty alcohol sulphonate as wetting agent.