Diphosphorus trisulfide (sometimes called phosphorus trisulfide) is a hypotheticalphosphorus sulfide with the formula of P2S3. In contrast, the formal dimer P4S6 is well-known.
History
Early reports that diphosphorous trisulfide could be formed by heating red phosphorus and sulfur were shown to be incorrect by Helff in 1893. Its existence was again reported by Ralston and Wilkinson in 1928. In 1959, Pitochelli and Audrieth attempted to prepare P2S3 via the reaction 2PCl3 + 3H2S → P2S3 + 6HCl, instead obtaining an equimolar mixture of P4S5 and P4S7 following recrystallization in carbon disulfide.[2] In 1997, Lohr and Sundholm published a theoretical analysis of the potential structures of this molecular substance.[3]
In 2017, Xiao proposed that a 2D crystallisation of P2S3 was possible based on computer simulations. Xiao suggested that nanoribbons and nanotubes of the material may have applications in semiconductor electronics.[4]
Lohr, Lawrence L.; Sundholm, Dage, "An ab initio characterization of diphosphorus trisulfide, P2S3", Journal of Molecular Structure, vol. 413–414, pp. 495–500, 30 September 1997. doi:10.1016/S0022-2860(97)00142-7
Pitochelli, A.R.; Audrieth, L.F., "Concerning the existence of diphosphorus trisulfide", Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 81, iss. 17, pp. 4458–4460, 1 September 1959. doi:10.1021/ja01526a005
Ralston, A.W.; Wilkinson, J.A., "Reactions in liquid hydrogen sulfide. III thiohydrolysis of chlorides", Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 50, iss. 2, pp. 258–264, 1 February 1928. doi:10.1021/ja01389a002
