Tin(IV)thiocyanate (Sn(SCN)2) is a tin salt, being one of the few tin compounds that shows strong solubility in water. Tin(IV)thiocyanate is moderately-toxic, highly-reactive and has a low melting point. Its most frequent uses are in catalysis, in amorphousness studies, and in anticorrosion inoculation compounds.
Tin(IV)thiocyanate is usually prepared from stannous chloride and potassium thiocyanate. In an aqueous solution, the salt undergoes hydrolysis, producing hydrolyzed tin(IV)thiocyanate and stannous hydroxide:
SnCl2 + 2 KSCN → Sn(SCN)2 + 2KCl + H2O
The process usually begins by dissolving stannous chloride, typically in aqueous form, in a reaction vessel. Potassium thiocyanate, in solid or aqueous form is added to the reaction vessel, and the contents of the vessel are stirred constantly to ensure a homogenous reaction. Heat is applied to the reaction vessel in a controlled manner to facilitate the process, but care must be taken to not exceed a certain temperature (which is typically determined experimentally) as to avoid producing strange or unwanted reaction by-products.
As the reaction proceeds, hydrolyzed tin(IV)thiocyanate is formed, which is a white chloride-thiocyano complex with a specific gravity of 1.97. The hydrolyzed tin(IV)thiocyanate is typically recovered by filtration and washing with water. This ensures that any residual thiocyanate ions that may still be present in the recovered product are removed.
Recovered Tin(IV) thiocyanate can take on various forms. For instance, a fine powder form can usually be obtained by drying the recovered product at a temperature of around 120˚C. If higher temperatures are used, it is possible to obtain a polycrystalline form, which is more suitable for certain applications.
Tin(IV)thiocyanate is a chemical with a variety of uses. As a catalyst, it can be used in a variety of synthetic processes such as chemical formulations, pharmaceutical preparations and petrochemical preparations. It is also used for analytical chemistry and for amorphousness studies due to its relatively low melting point. The chemical can be used as an antifouling agent in paints, and as an anticorrosion inoculation compound, as it is relatively unreactive in most types of water solutions. Additionally, it is often used in the production of textile dyes.
In general, Tin(IV)thiocyanate is a compound with a wide variety of uses, ranging from catalysis to anti-fouling applications. It is relatively straightforward to synthesize, and the reaction conditions are amenable to modification, allowing for the formation of a wide variety of tin complexes. When it comes to safety, the compound is considered to be mildly toxic, and is therefore best handled with usual safety precautions.
