Contents

Disulfur dichloride

Disulfur dichloride

Sulfur, S   Chlorine, Cl
Names
IUPAC name Disulfur dichloride
Systematic IUPAC name Dichlorodisulfane
Other names Bis[chloridosulfur](S–S) Dimeric sulfenic chloride Sulfur monochloride (incorrect name)
Identifiers
CAS Number	10025-67-9 Y 85408-26-0 (isobutenate) N
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	23192 Y 19158348 (isobutenate) N
DrugBank	DB14647
ECHA InfoCard	100.030.021
EC Number	233-036-2
MeSH	Sulfur+monochloride
PubChem CID	24807
RTECS number	WS4300000
UNII	NJ7YR2EV0D Y
UN number	3390
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID3042427
InChI InChI=1S/Cl2S2/c1-3-4-2 Y Key: PXJJSXABGXMUSU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/Cl2S2/c1-3-4-2 Key: PXJJSXABGXMUSU-UHFFFAOYAK
SMILES ClSSCl
Properties
Chemical formula	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)
Solubility in water	Decomposes, with loss of HCl
Solubility	Soluble in ethanol, benzene, ether, THF, chloroform, CCl4[2]
Vapor pressure	7 mmHg (20 °C)[1]
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	−62.2·10−6cm3/mol
Refractive index (nD)	1.658
Structure
Point group	C2
Coordination geometry	2 at sulfur atoms
Molecular shape	gauche
Dipole moment	1.60 D[2]
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H301, H314, H332, H400
Precautionary statements	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)	2 1 1
Flash point	118.5 °C (245.3 °F; 391.6 K)
Autoignition temperature	234 °C (453 °F; 507 K)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LCLo (lowest published)	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	Sulfur dichloride Thionyl chloride Sulfuryl chloride
Related compounds	Hydrogen disulfide Disulfur difluoride Disulfur dibromide Disulfur diiodide Dimethyl disulfide Diphenyl disulfide Diselenium dichloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Chemical compound

Disulfur dichloride (ordisulphur dichloride by the British English spelling) is the inorganic compoundofsulfur and chlorine with the formula S₂Cl₂.^[4][5][6][7] It is an amber oily liquid.

Sometimes, this compound is incorrectly named sulfur monochloride (orsulphur 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 Cl^a−S−S and S−S−Cl^b planes is 85.2°. This structure is referred to as gauche, and is akin to that for H₂O₂. A rare isomerofS₂Cl₂isS=SCl₂ (thiothionyl chloride); this isomer forms transiently when S₂Cl₂ is exposed to UV-radiation (see thiosulfoxides).

Synthesis, basic properties, reactions[edit]

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 + nS₈ → 8 S_n+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 thiophosgeneorcarbon tetrachloride.

Reactions[edit]

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

2 H₂S + S₂Cl₂ → H₂S₄ + 2 HCl

It reacts with ammonia to give heptasulfur imide (S₇NH) and related S−N rings S_8−n(NH)_n (n = 2, 3).

Applications[edit]

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

Other uses of S₂Cl₂ include the manufacture of sulfur dyes, insecticides, and synthetic rubbers. It is also used in cold vulcanizationofrubbers, as a polymerization catalyst for vegetable oils and for hardening soft woods.^[9]

Safety and regulation[edit]

S₂Cl₂ can be used to produce bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide S(CH₂CH₂Cl)₂, known as the mustard gas:^[9]

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[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Disulfur dichloride.