Chemistry:Sulfur dicyanide

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Sulfur dicyanide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
Properties
C2N2S
Molar mass 84.10 g·mol−1
Appearance white solid
Density 1.48 g/cm3
Melting point 62.3 °C (144.1 °F; 335.4 K)[1]
30–40 °C, 1 atm
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Sulfur dicyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula S(CN)2. A white, slightly unstable solid, the compound is mainly of theoretical and fundamental interest given its simplicity.[2]: 8  It is the first member of the dicyanosulfanes Sx(CN)2, which includes thiocyanogen ((SCN)2) and higher polysulfanes up to S4(CN)2.[3] According to X-ray crystallography, the molecule is planar, the SCN units are linear, with an S-C-S angle of 95.6°.[4]

Sulfur dicyanide begins to sublime at 30-40 °C and melts at 60 °C.[5] Under an inert atmosphere, it slowly decomposes to a yellow polymer at room temperature with a rate increasing in temperature.[2]: 8, 14  The compound is unstable in acid, disproportionating to thiocyanate, cyanate, sulfate,and cyanide,[1] and neutral moisture induces decomposition to thiocyanic and cyanic acids. Stable solutions are possible in many organic solvents.[2]: 14 

Sulfur dicyanide was first synthesized by Lassaigne in 1828 from silver cyanide and sulfur dichloride.[2]: 8  Subsequent developments include Linneman's discovery that the same product arose from silver thiocyanate and cyanogen iodide,[5] and Söderbäck's extensive analysis of reactions between metal cyanides and sulfur halides.[6] Linneman also discovered that sulfur dicyanide reacts with ammonia à la Pinner to give an amidine without displacing the S–C linkage,[5] although dimethylamine induces decomposition to dimethylcyanamide and dimethylammonium thiocyanate.[2]: 14 

Sulfur dicyanide generally reacts with noble metals to give heteroleptic cyano-thiocyano complices, although in rare cases it can ligate without decomposition, e.g.:[2]: x 

Ir(CO)(PPh3)2Cl + NCSCN → Ir(CO)(CN)(SCN)(PPh3)2Cl
Ir(N2)(PPh3)2Cl + S(CN)2 → Ir(S(CN)2)(PPh3)2Cl

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Wilson, I. R.; Harris, G. M. (January 1, 1961). "The oxidation of thiocyanate ion by hydrogen peroxide II: The acid-catalyzed reaction". Journal of the American Chemical Society 83 (2). doi:10.1021/ja01463a007. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Hamilton, Diane Singleton (26 November 1974). Reactions of Sulfur-Dicyanide and Sulfur-Dichlorides with Transition Metal Complexes (PhD). Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College.
  3. Steudel, Ralf; Bergemann, Klaus; Kustos, Monika (1994). "Crystal and Molecular Structure of Dicyanotetrasulfane S4(CN)2". Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie 620: 117–120. doi:10.1002/zaac.19946200119. 
  4. Emerson, K. (1966). "The Crystal and Molecular Structure of Sulfur Dicyanide". Acta Crystallographica 21 (6): 970–974. doi:10.1107/S0365110X66004262. Bibcode1966AcCry..21..970E. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Linneman, F. (1861). "Untersuchung über das Cyansulfid" (in de). Liebigs Annalen der Chemie 120 (1): 36–47. doi:10.1002/jlac.18611200103. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pst.000067447008&seq=430. 
  6. Söderbäck, Erik (1919). "Studien über das freie Rhodan". Justus Liebig's Annalen der Chemie 419 (3): 217–322. doi:10.1002/jlac.19194190302. https://zenodo.org/record/1427649.