Thiophosgene

CSCl₂ is prepared in a two-step process from carbon disulfide. In the first step, carbon disulfide is chlorinated to give trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride (perchloromethyl mercaptan), CCl₃SCl:

CS₂ + 3 Cl₂ → CCl₃SCl + S₂Cl₂

The chlorination must be controlled as excess chlorine converts trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride into carbon tetrachloride. Steam distillation separates the trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride, a rare sulfenyl chloride, and hydrolyzes the sulfur monochloride. Reduction of trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride produces thiophosgene:

CCl₃SCl + M → CSCl₂ + MCl₂

Typically, tin is used for the reducing agent M.[2]

CSCl₂ is mainly used to prepare compounds with the connectivity CSX₂ where X = OR, NHR.[3] Such reactions proceed via intermediate such as CSClX. Under certain conditions, one can convert primary amines into isothiocyanates. CSCl₂ also serves as a dienophile to give, after reduction 5-thiacyclohexene derivatives. Thiophosgene is also known as the appropriate reagent in Corey-Winter synthesis for stereospecific conversion of 1,2-diols into olefins.[4]

It forms a head-to-tail dimer upon irradiation with UV light:[5]

2 CSCl₂ → S₂(CCl₂)₂

Unlike thiophosgene monomer, a red liquid, the photodimer, an example of a 1,3-dithietane, is a colorless solid.

CSCl₂ is considered highly toxic.

• Holleman, Arnold Frederik; Wiberg, Egon (2001), Wiberg, Nils (ed.), Inorganic Chemistry, translated by Eagleson, Mary; Brewer, William, San Diego/Berlin: Academic Press/De Gruyter, ISBN 0-12-352651-5