Facts and Fantasy on Tetrathio Oxalate—Activation and Condensation of Carbon Disulfide

Abstract

In its reactions with electron-rich metal centers, including the mercury cathode, CS₂ undergoes a wide variety of reactions to produce C_nS_m groups in varying charges and coordination modes. The coupling of two CS₂ molecules to formally give C₂S₄ group has been shown to produce three different moieties:

(a) Coupling via C-S bond formation to produce an MC(:S)SC(:S)S ring.

(b) Coupling via C-C bond formation to formally produce ethenetetrathiol.

(c) Coupling via electroreductive dimerization to produce stable tetrathio oxalate salts.