Polysulfide dianion

In melts and polar solvents polysulfide dianions are usually present as mixtures of species of different chain-lengths as a result of the following types of equilibria which are rapidly established even at 20 °C [5] ... 

The chemistry of polysulfide dianions is closely related to that of the radical-monoanions S since both types of anions are in equilibrium with each other in solution and in high-temperature melts, e.g. ... 

The generated polysulfide dianions of different chain-lengths then establish a complex equilibrium mixture with all members up to the octasulfide at least see Eqs. (5) and (6). For this reason, it is not possible to separate the polysulfide dianions by ion chromatography [6]. The maximum possible chain-length can be estimated from the preparation of salts with these anions in various solvents (see above). However, since the reactions at Eqs. (22) and (23) are reversible and Sg precipitates from such solutions if the pH is lowered below a value of 6, the nonasulfide ion must be present also to generate the Sg molecules by the reverse of the reaction at Eq. (22). The latter reaction (precipitation of Sg on acidification) may be used for the gravimetric determination of polysulfides [11]. There is no evidence for the presence of monoprotonated polysulfide ions HS - in aqueous solutions [67, 72]. 

The electrochemical reduction and oxidation of sulfur and of polysulfide dianions at inert electrodes has been studied in aprotic solvents and in liquid ammonia. In the latter case, sulfur-nitrogen compounds are involved and these systems [90] will not be discussed here. 

Vibrational spectroscopy and in particular Raman spectroscopy is by far the most useful spectroscopic technique to qualitatively characterize polysulfide samples. The fundamental vibrations of the polysulfide dianions with between 4 and 8 atoms have been calculated by Steudel and Schuster [96] using force constants derived partly from the vibrational spectra of NayS4 and (NH4)2Ss and partly from cydo-Sg. It turned out that not only species of differing molecular size but also rotational isomers like Ss of either Cy or Cs symmetry can be recognized from pronounced differences in their spectra. The latter two anions are present, for instance, in NaySg (Cs) and KySg (Cy), respectively (see Table 2). 

The yellow disulfide radical anion and the briUiant blue trisulfide radical anion often occur together for what reason some authors of the older Hterature (prior to 1975) got mixed up with their identification. Today, both species are well known by their E8R, infrared, resonance Raman, UV-Vis, and photoelectron spectra, some of which have been recorded both in solutions and in solid matrices. In solution these radical species are formed by the ho-molytic dissociation of polysulfide dianions according to Eqs. (7) and (8). 8ince these dissociation reactions are of course endothermic the radical formation is promoted by heating as well as by dilution. Furthermore, solvents of lower polarity than that of water also favor the homolytic dissociation. However, in solutions at 20 °C the equilibria at Eqs. (7) and (8) are usually on the left side (excepting extremely dilute systems) and only the very high sensitivity of E8R, UV-Vis and resonance Raman spectroscopy made it possible to detect the radical anions in liquid and solid solutions see above. 

The red tetrasulfide radical anion 84 has been proposed as a constituent of sulfur-doped alkali hahdes, of alkah polysulfide solutions in DMF [84, 86], HMPA [89] and acetone [136] and as a product of the electrochemical reduction of 8s in DM80 or DMF [12]. However, in all these cases no convincing proof for the molecular composition of the species observed by either E8R, Raman, infrared or UV-Vis spectroscopy has been provided. The problem is that the red species is formed only in sulfur-rich solutions where long-chain polysulfide dianions are present also and these are of orange to red color, too (for a description of this dilemma, see [89]). Furthermore, the presence of the orange radical anion 8e (see below) cannot be excluded in such systems. 

Reactions of Metal Halides with Polysulfide Dianions. 166... 

Reactions of metal halides with polysulfide dianions are useful methods for the synthesis of polysulfido complexes of main group elements and transition metals. In most of these reactions, similarly to other methods, the chain lengths and coordination types of the polysulfide ligands depend on the other ligands coordinated to the metal, on the ratio between the metal and sulfur, on the reaction temperature, and other parameters. 

Scheme 20 Synthesis of group 13 polysulfido complexes by the reaction of the corresponding metal halides with polysulfide dianions...

Molecular orbital theory also predicts that a nucleophile of the sulfide type will bond at the carbon terminus of a conjugated ene carbonyl system that is, the nucleophile will bond with the electrophile in the Michael addition mode of reaction (20). Thus, the reaction of polysulfide dianion with an enone represented by a chalcone may proceed initially in such a manner as shown in Scheme 2, which reproduces one of the several pathways... 

Palladium and platinum have a high affinity for sulfur donors e.g., S02 and SOI are coordinated via S rather than O. Polysulfide dianions S2n form complexes with... 

There is a range of polysulfide dianions 8 that can be obtained by reaction of sulfur with simple sulfides, by high-temperature reaction of an alkali metal with sulfur, or by reaction of alkali metals with sulfur in liquid ammonia. Often, once formed, the anions are in equilibrium in solution, but individual anions can be complexed successfully. 8tructures of the free poly sulfide anions are shown in Figure 31. 

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