Carbon disulfide

Carbon disulfide
Carbon disulfide
Carbon-disulfide-3D-vdW.png
IUPAC name Carbon disulfide
Other names Dithiocarbonic anhydride
Identifiers
CAS number 75-15-0
SMILES
Properties
Molecular formula CS2
Molar mass 76.1 g/mol
Appearance colorless liquid
impure: light-yellow
Density 1.26 g/cm³
Melting point

-111.6 °C (161.6 K)

Boiling point

46 °C (319 K)

Solubility in other solvents 0.2 g/100 ml of water (20 °C)
Hazards
NFPA 704
NFPA 704.svg
4
3
0
 
R-phrases R11, R23, R24, R25, R48
S-phrases S16, S33, , S53
Flash point -30 °C
Autoignition
temperature
90 °C
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Carbon disulfide is a colorless, volatile liquid with the formula CS2. The compound is used frequently as a building block in organic chemistry as well as an industrial and chemical non-polar solvent. It has an "ether-like" odor, but commercial samples are typically contaminated with foul-smelling impurities, such as carbonyl sulfide[1].

Contents

Occurrence and manufacture

Small amounts of carbon disulfide are released by volcanic eruptions and marshes. CS2 once was manufactured by combining carbon (or coke) and sulfur at high temperatures. A lower temperature reaction, requiring only 600 °C utilizes natural gas as the carbon source in the presence of silica gel or alumina catalysts:[1]

CH4 + ½S8 → CS2 + 2H2S

The reaction is analogous to the combustion of methane. Although it is isoelectronic to carbon dioxide, CS2 is highly flammable:

CS2 + 3O2 → CO2 + 2SO2

Reactions

Compared to CO2, CS2 is more reactive toward nucleophiles and more easily reduced. These differences in reactivity can be attributed to the weaker π donor-ability of the sulfido centers, which renders the carbon more electrophilic. It is widely used in the synthesis of organosulfur compounds such as metham sodium, a soil fumigant and is commonly used in the production of the soft fabric viscose.

Addition of nucleophiles

Nucleophiles such as amines afford dithiocarbamates:

2R2NH + CS2 → [R2NH2+][R2NCS2]

Xanthates form similarly from alkoxides:

RONa + CS2 → [Na+][ROCS2]

This reaction is the basis of the manufacture of regenerated cellulose, the main ingredient of viscose, rayon and cellophane. Both xanthates and the related thioxanthates (derived from treatment of CS2 with sodium thiolates) are used as flotation agents in mineral processing.

Sodium sulfide affords trithiocarbonate:

Na2S + CS2 → [Na+]2[CS32−]

Reduction

Skeletal formula of the dmit dianion

Sodium reduces CS2 to give the heterocycle "dmit2−":[2]

3CS2 + 4Na → Na2C3S5 + Na2S

Direct electrochemical reduction affords the tetrathiooxalate anion:[3]

2CS2 + 2e → C2S42−

Chlorination

Chlorination of CS2 is the principal route to carbon tetrachloride:[1]

CS2 + 3Cl2 → CCl4 + S2Cl2

This conversion proceeds via the intermediacy of thiophosgene, CSCl2.

Coordination chemistry

CS2 is a ligand for many metal complexes, forming pi complexes. One example is CpCo(η2-CS2)(PMe3).[4]

Commercial Availability

CS2, being highly flammable and having one of the lowest autoignition temperatures, cannot be transported easily using commercial means. Worldwide exports of this chemical are negligible.

Pressurized Liquid Nitrogen Based Sample

Johnson Matthey's sister company Alfa Aesar was the first company to introduce carbon disulfide in the form of pressurized bottle containing a solution of pressurized nitrogen, coupling agent, stablizer, and carbon disulfide, with an active carbon disulfide content of 85%. Dilution with nitrogen rendered contents nonflammable. In 2007 Alfa Aesar stopped selling carbon disulfide samples.

Health effects

At very high levels, carbon disulfide may be life-threatening because it affects the nervous system. Significant safety data come from the viscose rayon Industry, where both carbon disulfide as well as small amounts of H2S may be present.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. "Inorganic Chemistry" Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.
  2. Girolami, G. S.; Rauchfuss, T. B. and Angelici, R. J., Synthesis and Technique in Inorganic Chemistry, University Science Books: Mill Valley, CA, 1999.ISBN: 0935702482
  3. Jeroschewski, P. "Electrochemical Preparation of Tetraalkylammonium Salts of Tetrathiooxalic Acid" Zeitschrift für Chemie (1981), volume 21, 412.
  4. Werner, H. (1982). "Novel Coordination Compounds formed from CS2 and Heteroallenes". Coordination Chemistry Reviews 43: 165–185. doi:10.1016/S0010-8545(00)82095-0. 

External links