Thiocarbonate describes a family of anions with the general chemical formula (x = 0, 1, or 2): for x = 2 it is monothiocarbonate ion for x = 1 it is dithiocarbonate ion for x = 0 it is trithiocarbonate ion Like the carbonate dianion, the thiocarbonate ions are trigonal planar, with carbon atom at the center of triangle, and oxygen and sulfur atoms at the peaks of the triangle. The average bond order between C and S or O is . The state of protonation is usually not specified. These anions are good nucleophiles and good ligands.Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. "Inorganic Chemistry" Academic Press: San Diego, 2001.
Thiocarbonates refer to salts of those ions as well (e.g. potassium trithiocarbonate, ).
Thiocarbonates refer to esters of those ions as well (e.g. dimethyl trithiocarbonate, ). They contain trigonal planar divalent functional groups similar to these anions (x = 0, 1, or 2, R is organyl group). Esters with the formula are also called xanthates, while esters with the formula are also called thioxanthates.
Thiocarbonates also refer to salts of organyl thiocarbonate ions (e.g. sodium ethyl xanthate or SEX, ). They contain anions (x = 0, 1, or 2, R is organyl group). Anions with the formula , and their salts, are also called xanthates, while salts with the formula , and their salts, are also called thioxanthates.
Monothiocarbonate
Monothiocarbonate is the dianion , which has C2v symmetry. Monothiocarbonate arises by the hydrolysis of thiophosgene or the reaction of base with carbonyl sulfide:
The esters of monothiocarbonic acids are called monothiocarbonates as well (e.g. O-ethyl-S-methyl monothiocarbonate ).
Dithiocarbonates
Dithiocarbonate is the dianion , which has C2v symmetry. It arises from the reaction of aqueous base with carbon disulfide:
Important derivatives of dithiocarbonates are the xanthates (O-esters of dithiocarbonates), with the formula . These salts are typically prepared by the reaction of sodium alkoxides with carbon disulfide.
Another group of dithiocarbonates have the formula . They are often derived by hydrolysis of the corresponding trithiocarbonates (RS)2CS. One example is tetrathiapentalenedione, a heterocycle that consists of two dithiocarbonate groups.
Trithiocarbonates
Trithiocarbonate is the dianion , which has D3h symmetry. Trithiocarbonate is prepared by the reaction of sodium hydrosulfide (NaSH) with carbon disulfide:(a procedure for synthesis of K2CS3
The relatively elusive trithiocarbonic acid has been characterized by X-ray crystallography.
Esters of thiocarbonic acid, such as dimethyl trithiocarbonate () are also called thioxanthate esters. Trithiocarbonate esters inhibit the enzyme carbonic anhydrase.
Perthiocarbonates Addition of sulfur to trithiocarbonate gives the perthiocarbonate anion , which contains one sulfur–sulfur bond.
Perthiocarbonic acid (or tetrathioperoxycarbonic acid / disulfanylmethanedithioic acid / CAS#13074-70-9) has never been obtained in pure form.A Text-book of Inorganic Chemistry, Volume 7, Issue 2, 1931, p. 269
See also Trithiocarbonic acid Xanthate Thioxanthate Sodium ethyl xanthate (SEX) Potassium ethyl xanthate (KEX) Potassium amyl xanthate Potassium trithiocarbonate Ethyl xanthic acid
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