boron sulfide

Like the sulfides of silicon and phosphorus, B₂S₃ reacts with traces of water, including atmospheric moisture to release H₂S. This hydrolysis is described by the following idealized equation:

:{{chem2|B2S3 + 3 H2O -> B2O3 + 3 H2S}}

B₂S₃ readily forms glasses when blended with other sulfides such as P₄S₁₀. Such glasses do not absorb mid-frequencies of Infra-red energy relative to conventional borosilicate glasses. Some of these ternary phases that are fast ion conductors.{{cite journal |doi=10.1103/physrevlett.76.70 |title=Non-Arrhenius Conductivity in Glass: Mobility and Conductivity Saturation Effects |year=1996 |last1=Kincs |first1=Joseph |last2=Martin |first2=Steve W. |journal=Physical Review Letters |volume=76 |issue=1 |pages=70–73 |pmid=10060436 |bibcode=1996PhRvL..76...70K |url=https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/mse_pubs/67 }}

B₂S₃ converts ketones into the corresponding thiones. For example, the conversion of benzophenone to its thione proceeds as follows:

:{{chem2|B2S3 + 3 (C6H5)2C\dO -> B2O3 + 3 (C6H5)2C\dS}}

In practice, B₂S₃ would be used in excess.{{ cite encyclopedia | author = Sato, R. | chapter = Boron Trisulfide | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis | editor = L. Paquette | year = 2004 | publisher = J. Wiley & Sons | location = New York | doi = 10.1002/047084289X.rb255 | isbn = 0471936235 }}

An early synthesis involved the reaction of iron and manganese borides with hydrogen sulfide at temperatures of 300 °C. The conversion is shown for the monoborides in the following idealized equation:{{ cite journal | author = Hoffmann, J. | title = Synthese von Borsulfid aus Ferro- und Manganbor | journal = Zeitschrift für anorganische Chemie | year = 1908 | volume = 59 | issue = 1 | pages = 127–135 | doi = 10.1002/zaac.19080590116 | url = https://zenodo.org/record/1428114 }}

:{{chem2|2 FeB + 4 H2S → B2S3 + FeS + 4 H2}}

The first synthesis was done by Jöns Jakob Berzelius in 1824 by direct reaction of amorphous boron with sulfur vapor.{{ cite journal | author = Berzelius, J. | authorlink = Berzelius | year = 1824 | title = Undersökning af flusspatssyran och dess märkvärdigaste föreningar |trans-title=Investigation of hydrofluoric acid and of its most noteworthy compounds | journal = Kongliga Vetenskaps-Academiens Handlingar [Proceedings of the Royal Science Academy] | volume = 12 | pages = 46–98 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pJlPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA46 }}
Reprinted in German as:
{{ cite journal | author = Berzelius, J. J. | authorlink = Berzelius | title = Untersuchungen über die Flußspathsäure und deren merkwürdigsten Verbindungen | journal = Annalen der Physik und Chemie | year = 1824 | volume = 78 | issue = 10 | pages = 113–150 | url = http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k150878/f123.image.r=Annalen%20der%20Physic.langEN | doi=10.1002/andp.18240781002| bibcode = 1824AnP....78..113B }} see especially pages 145–147.

:2 B + 3 S → B₂S₃

Another synthesis was favoured by Friedrich Wöhler and Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville first published in 1858, starting from boron and hydrogen sulfide.{{ cite journal | authorlink1 = Friedrich Wöhler | author1 = Wöhler, F. | authorlink2 = Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville | author2 = Deville, H. E. S.-C. | title = Neue Beobachtungen über das Bor und einige seiner Verbindungen |trans-title=New observations concerning boron and some of its compounds | journal = Liebigs Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie | year = 1858 | volume = 105 | issue = 1 | pages = 67–73 | doi = 10.1002/jlac.18581050109 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=muE2AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA67 }}{{ cite journal

| authorlink1 = Friedrich Wöhler | author1 = Wöhler, F. | authorlink2 = Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville | author2 = Deville, H. E. S.-C. | title = Du Bore | journal = Annales de Chimie et de Physique | year = 1858 | volume = 52 | pages = 62–93 | url = http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k347939/f62.table }}

:2 B + 3 H₂S → B₂S₃ + 3 H₂

The boron atoms in B₂S₃ are trigonal planar, and are arranged in B₃S₃ and B₂S₂ rings with bridging S atoms forming a layer structure with an interlayer distance of 355 pm. This is different from boron trioxide which has a three dimensional structure.{{Greenwood&Earnshaw}} The molecular, monomeric, form of B₂S₃ has a planar V shape with the central B-S-B angle of approximately 120°.

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{{Boron compounds}}

{{Sulfides}}

Category:Boron compounds

Category:Sesquisulfides