Thiocarbonyl Tetrachloride, CSCl₄ or Cl₃C.SCl

Thiocarbonyl Tetrachloride, Carbon Tetrachlorosulphide, or Trichloromethyl Sulphur Chloride, CSCl₄ or Cl₃C.SCl, may be prepared by the action of dry chlorine on dried carbon disulphide in the presence of iodine. It is a golden-yellow liquid, with an intensely disagreeable odour; it attacks the eyes and respiratory organs. Its density is 1.722. It boils at 149° C.

When heated in a closed vessel to 200° C., thiocarbonyl tetrachloride decomposes with formation of sulphur chloride. It dissolves chlorine without being attacked. Water at 160° C. decomposes it entirely into carbon dioxide, hydrogen chloride and sulphur. It is also decomposed at ordinary temperatures by contact with metallic iron, the products being ferrous chloride and carbon tetrachloride, although according to de Fazi the reaction may, under special conditions, proceed according to the equation:

CSCl₄ + Fe = FeCl₂ + CSCl₂.

With certain catalysts a yield of 80 per cent, of thiocarbonyl chloride may be obtained.