Thiophosphoryl Nitride, SPN

Thiophosphoryl Nitride or Nitrilomonothiophosphoric Acid, SPN, was obtained by gradually heating together, from 180° to 328° C., P₂S₅ and NH₄Cl in the quantities required by the equation

P₂S₅ + 2NH₄Cl = 2SPN + 2HCl + 3H₂S

It resulted also on heating amido- and imido-thiophosphates in a vacuum. It was a white powder, fairly stable to aqueous reagents, but hydrolysed by water at 140° C., thus

SPN + 4H₂O = H₃PO₄ + H₂S + NH₃

On strong heating it gave P₃N₅ (q.v.).