Chemistry of nitryl chloride. Part I.

Abstract

Nitryl chloride dissolves readily in sulphuric and disulphuric acids. Cryoscopic, conductometric, and Raman and i.r. spectral studies of its solutions have confirmed that it gives nitronium ions. It forms complexes with strong electron acceptors like boron trichloride and antimony pentachloride. From their conductance in nitromethane and i.r. spectra the complexes have been found to be ionic. Nitryl chloride also forms complexes with organic tertiary bases. The ionic nature of these complexes has also been confirmed by conductances and i.r. spectra. We conclude that nitryl chloride is a source of nitronium ions rather than positive chlorine, as was postulated earlier.