Acid-base Reactions
S4N4 serves as a Lewis base by binding through nitrogen to strongly Lewis acidic compounds such as SbCl5 and SO3. The cage is distorted in these adducts, thus delocalization of electrons may be disrupted.
- S4N4 + SbCl5 → S4N4·SbCl5
- S4N4 + SO3 → S4N4·SO3
The reaction of with S4N4 is reported to form a complex where a sulfur forms a dative bond to the metal. This compound upon standing is isomerised to a complex in which a nitrogen atom forms the additional bond to the metal centre.
It is protonated by HBF4 to form a tetrafluoroborate salt:
- S4N4 + HBF4 → [BF−
4]
The soft Lewis acid CuCl forms a polymer containing intact S4N4 rings as the bridging ligands:
- n S4N4 + n CuCl → (S4N4)n-μ-(-Cu-Cl-)n
S4N4 is sensitive to hydrolysis in the presence of base. Dilute NaOH hydrolyzes S4N4 as follows, yielding thiosulfate and trithionate:
- 2 S4N4 + 6 OH− + 9 H2O → S2O2−
3 + 2 S3O2−
6 + 8 NH3
More concentrated base yields sulfite:
- S4N4 + 6 OH− + 3 H2O → S2O2−
3 + 2 SO2−
3 + 4 NH3
Read more about this topic: Tetrasulfur Tetranitride
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