Thiophosgene is a red liquid with the formula . It is a molecule with trigonal planar geometry. There are two reactive C–Cl bonds that allow it to be used in diverse organic syntheses. Preparation is prepared in a two-step process from carbon disulfide. In the first step, carbon disulfide is chlorinated to give trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride (perchloromethyl mercaptan), : The chlorination must be controlled as excess chlorine converts trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride into carbon tetrachloride. Steam distillation separates the trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride, a rare sulfenyl chloride, and hydrolyzes the disulfur dichloride. Reduction of trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride produces thiophosgene: Tin and dihydroanthracene have been used for the reducing agents. Reactions is mainly used to prepare compounds with the connectivity where X = OR, NHR. Such reactions proceed via intermediate such as CSClX. Under certain conditions, one can convert primary amines into isothiocyanates. also serves as a dienophile to give, after reduction 5-thiacyclohexene derivatives. Thiophosgene is also known as the appropriate reagent in Corey-Winter synthesis for stereospecific conversion of 1,2-diols into alkenes. It forms a head-to-tail dimer upon irradiation with UV light: Unlike thiophosgene monomer, a red liquid, the photodimer, an example of a 1,3-dithietane, is a colourless solid. Safety considerations is considered highly toxic. References Further reading Inorganic carbon compounds Inorganic sulfur compounds Thiochlorides Thiocarbonyl compounds Lachrymatory agents