Disulfur dichloride (or disulphur dichloride by the British English spelling) is the inorganic compound of sulfur and chlorine with the formula S2Cl2.[4][5][6][7] It is an amber oily liquid.

Disulfur dichloride
Wireframe model of disulfur dichloride
Ball and stick model of disulfur dichloride
Ball and stick model of disulfur dichloride
Spacefill model of disulfur dichloride
Spacefill model of disulfur dichloride
  Sulfur, S
  Chlorine, Cl
Names
IUPAC names
Disulfur dichloride
Dichlorodisulfane
Systematic IUPAC name
Chlorosulfanyl thiohypochlorite
Other names
  • Bis[chloridosulfur](SS)
  • Dimeric sulfenic chloride
  • Sulfur monochloride (incorrect name)
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.030.021 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 233-036-2
MeSH Sulfur monochloride
RTECS number
  • WS4300000
UNII
UN number 3390
  • InChI=1S/Cl2S2/c1-3-4-2 checkY
    Key: PXJJSXABGXMUSU-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/Cl2S2/c1-3-4-2
    Key: PXJJSXABGXMUSU-UHFFFAOYAK
  • ClSSCl
Properties
S2Cl2
Molar mass 135.02 g·mol−1
Appearance Light-amber to yellow-red, oily liquid[1]
Odor pungent, nauseating, irritating[1]
Density 1.688 g/cm3
Melting point −80 °C (−112 °F; 193 K)
Boiling point 137.1 °C (278.8 °F; 410.2 K)
Decomposes, with loss of HCl
Solubility Soluble in ethanol, benzene, ether, THF, chloroform, CCl4[2]
Vapor pressure 7 mmHg (20 °C)[1]
−62.2·10−6 cm3/mol
1.658
Structure
C2
2 at sulfur atoms
gauche
1.60 D[2]
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS02: FlammableGHS06: ToxicGHS07: Exclamation markGHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
H301, H314, H332, H400
P260, P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P301 P310, P301 P330 P331, P303 P361 P353, P304 P312, P304 P340, P305 P351 P338, P310, P312, P321, P330, P363, P391, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilInstability 1: Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures. E.g. calciumSpecial hazards (white): no code
2
1
1
Flash point 118.5 °C (245.3 °F; 391.6 K)
234 °C (453 °F; 507 K)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
150 ppm (mouse, 1 min) (1 ppm = 5.52 mg/m3)[3]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
TWA 1 ppm (5.52 mg/m3)[1]
REL (Recommended)
C 1 ppm (5.52 mg/m3)[1]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
5 ppm[1] (1 ppm = 5.52 mg/m3)
Safety data sheet (SDS) ICSC 0958
Related compounds
Related sulfur chlorides/oxychlorides
Related compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Sometimes, this compound is incorrectly named sulfur monochloride (or sulphur monochloride by the British English spelling), the name implied by its empirical formula SCl.

S2Cl2 has the structure implied by the formula Cl−S−S−Cl, wherein the dihedral angle between the Cla−S−S and S−S−Clb planes is 85.2°. This structure is referred to as gauche, and is akin to that for H2O2. A rare isomer of S2Cl2 is S=SCl2 (thiothionyl chloride); this isomer forms transiently when S2Cl2 is exposed to UV-radiation (see thiosulfoxides).

Synthesis, basic properties, reactions

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Disulfur dichloride is a yellow liquid that fumes in moist air due to reaction with water:

16 S2Cl2 16 H2O → 8 SO2 32 HCl 3 S8

It is produced by partial chlorination of elemental sulfur. The reaction proceeds at usable rates at room temperature. In the laboratory, chlorine gas is led into a flask containing elemental sulfur. As disulfur dichloride is formed, the contents become a golden yellow liquid:[8]

S8 4 Cl2 → 4 S2Cl2, ΔH = −58.2 kJ/mol

Excess chlorine produces sulfur dichloride, which causes the liquid to become less yellow and more orange-red:

S2Cl2 Cl2 ⇌ 2 SCl2, ΔH = −40.6 kJ/mol

The reaction is reversible, and upon standing, SCl2 releases chlorine to revert to the disulfur dichloride. Disulfur dichloride has the ability to dissolve large quantities of sulfur, which reflects in part the formation of polysulfanes:

8 S2Cl2 n S8 → 8 Sn 2Cl2

Disulfur dichloride can be purified by distillation from excess elemental sulfur.

S2Cl2 also arises from the chlorination of CS2 as in the synthesis of thiophosgene or carbon tetrachloride.

Reactions

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S2Cl2 hydrolyzes to sulfur dioxide and elemental sulfur. When treated with hydrogen sulfide, polysulfanes are formed as indicated in the following idealized formula:

2 H2S S2Cl2H2S4 2 HCl

It reacts with ammonia to give tetrasulfur tetranitride as well as heptasulfur imide (S7NH) and related S−N rings S8−n(NH)n (n = 2, 3).[9]

16 NH3 6 S2Cl2 → S4N4 S8 12 NH4Cl

With primary and secondary alkoxide equivalents, it forms disulfoxylate esters:

2 ROH  S2Cl2  2 NEt3 → (R–O–S)2  2 [HNEt3]Cl

In principle the subsequent addition of base should give sulfoxylate esters, but typically induces disproportionation to aldehydes and alcohols instead.[10]

Applications

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S2Cl2 has been used to introduce C−S bonds. In the presence of aluminium chloride (AlCl3), S2Cl2 reacts with benzene to give diphenyl sulfide:

8 S2Cl2 16 C6H6 → 8 (C6H5)2S 16 HCl S8

Anilines (1) react with S2Cl2 in the presence of NaOH to give 1,2,3-benzodithiazolium chloride (2) (Herz reaction) which can be transformed into ortho-aminothiophenolates (3), these species are precursors to thioindigo dyes.

 

It is also used to prepare mustard gas via ethylene at 60 °C (the Levinstein process):

8 S2Cl2 16 H2C=CH2 → 8 (ClCH2CH2)2S S8

If the reaction is performed at a temperature under 30 °C, the sulfur stays in "pseudo-solution" and avoids the problems associated with the sulfur that is formed during the reaction.

Other uses of S2Cl2 include the manufacture of sulfur dyes, insecticides, and synthetic rubbers. It is also used in cold vulcanization of rubbers, as a polymerization catalyst for vegetable oils and for hardening soft woods.[11]

Safety and regulation

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S2Cl2 can be used to produce bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide S(CH2CH2Cl)2, known as the mustard gas:[11]

S2Cl2 2 H2C=CH2 → S(CH2CH2Cl)2 "S"

Consequently, it is listed in Schedule 3 of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Facilities that produce and/or process and/or consume scheduled chemicals may be subject to control, reporting mechanisms and inspection by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0578". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  2. ^ a b Pradyot Patnaik. Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals. McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN 0-07-049439-8
  3. ^ "Sulfur monochloride". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  4. ^ Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. Inorganic Chemistry Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.
  5. ^ Hartman, W. W.; Smith, L. A.; Dickey, J. B. (1934). "Diphenylsulfide". Organic Syntheses. 14: 36; Collected Volumes, vol. 2, p. 242.
  6. ^ R. J. Cremlyn An Introduction to Organosulfur Chemistry John Wiley and Sons: Chichester (1996). ISBN 0-471-95512-4
  7. ^ Garcia-Valverde M., Torroba T. (2006). "Heterocyclic chemistry of sulfur chlorides – Fast ways to complex heterocycles". European Journal of Organic Chemistry. 2006 (4): 849–861. doi:10.1002/ejoc.200500786.849-861&rft.date=2006&rft_id=info:doi/10.1002/ejoc.200500786&rft.au=Garcia-Valverde M., Torroba T.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Disulfur dichloride" class="Z3988">
  8. ^ F. Fehér "Dichlorodisulfane" in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Edited by G. Brauer, Academic Press, 1963, NY. Vol. 1. p. 371.
  9. ^ Tyree Jr., S. Y. (1967). "Chapter VI". Inorganic Syntheses. doi:10.1002/9780470132401. ISBN 9780470131688.
  10. ^
    • Thompson, Q. E.; Crutchfield, M. M.; Dietrich, M. W.; Pierron, E. (1 Aug 1965) [11 Jan 1965]. "Organic Esters of Bivalent Sulfur I: Dialkoxy Disulfides". JOC. 30 (8). doi:10.1021/jo01019a044.
    • Thompson, Q. E. "——— III: Sulfoxylates". Ibid. doi:10.1021/jo01019a046
  11. ^ a b Lauss, Hans-Dietrich; Steffens, Wilfried (2000). "Sulfur Halides". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a25_623. ISBN 3527306730.