Thiocarbonic acid
Thiocarbonic acid is an acid with the chemical formula H2CS3 (or S=C(SH)2). It is an analog of carbonic acid H2CO3 (or O=C(OH)2), in which all oxygen atoms are replaced with sulfur atoms. It is an unstable hydrophobic red oily liquid.[1] It is often referred to as trithiocarbonic acid so as to differentiate it from other carbonic acids containing sulfur, such as monothiocarbonic O,O-acid S=C(OH)2, monothiocarbonic O,S-acid O=C(OH)(SH), dithiocarbonic O,S-acid S=C(OH)(SH) and dithiocarbonic S,S-acid O=C(SH)2 (see thiocarbonates). Discovery and synthesisIt was first reported in brief by Zeise in 1824 and later in more detail by Berzelius in 1826,[2] in both cases it was produced by the action of carbon disulfide on a hydrosulfide salt (e.g. potassium hydrosulfide).[3] Treatment with acids liberates the thiocarbonic acid as a red oil:
Both the acid and many of its salts are unstable and decompose via the release of carbon disulfide, particularly upon heating:
An improved synthesis involves addition of barium trithiocarbonate to hydrochloric acid at 0 °C. This method provided samples with which many measurement have been made.[1]
Despite its lability, crystals of thiocarbonic acid have been examined by X-ray crystallography, which confirms the anticipated molecular structure of a trigonal planar molecular geometry at the central carbon atom. The C-S bond lengths range from 1.69 to 1.77 Å.[4] Reactions and derivativesThiocarbonic acid is acidic, with the first pKa being around 2. The second pKa is near 7. It dissolves S8, but does not react with it.[1] Salts and esters of trithiocarbonic acid are called trithiocarbonates, and they are sometimes called thioxanthates. Thiocarbonic acid reacts with bifunctional reagents to give rings. 1,2-Dichloroethane gives ethylene trithiocarbonate (S=CS2(CH2)2). Oxalyl chloride gives oxalyl trithiocarbonate (S=CS2(C=O)2). Some of the organic trithiocarbonates
ApplicationsThiocarbonic acid currently has no significant applications. Its esters find use in RAFT polymerization. References
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