Sulfolane mixtures as ambient aprotic polar solvents

1. A mixture consisting of 85 wt % to 99 wt % of sulfolane and 1 wt %-15 wt % of at least one dialkyl sulfone, wherein the at least one dialkyl sulfone has the formula R—(SO 2 )—R′, where R and R′ can be the same as or different from one another and can be any C 1 -C 6 alkyl group.

2. The mixture of claim 1 , wherein the at least one dialkyl sulfone is selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfone, ethyl methyl sulfone, dipropyl sulfone, ethyl propyl sulfone, diethyl sulfone, dibutyl sulfone, and combinations thereof.

3. The mixture of claim 1 , wherein the at least one dialkyl sulfone comprises dimethylsulfone.

4. The mixture of claim 1 , wherein the mixture is substantially devoid of water.

5. The mixture of claim 1 , wherein the mixture has a melting point between about 7° C. and about 20° C.

6. The mixture of claim 1 , wherein the mixture is a liquid at room temperature.

7. A method of lowering the melting point of sulfolane, said method comprising preparing a mixture consisting of 85 wt % to 99 wt % of sulfolane and 1 wt %-15 wt % of at least one dialkyl sulfone, wherein the dialkyl sulfone has the formula R—(SO 2 )—R′, where R and R′ can be the same as or different from one another and can be any C 1 -C 6 alkyl group.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mixture of sulfolane and at least one dialkyl sulfone is substantially devoid of water.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mixture of sulfolane and at least one dialkyl sulfone has a melting point between about 7° C. and about 20° C.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one dialkyl sulfone is selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfone, ethyl methyl sulfone, dipropyl sulfone, ethyl propyl sulfone, diethyl sulfone, dibutyl sulfone, and combinations thereof.