Tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride

Tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride is the inorganic compound with the formula WOCl4. This diamagnetic solid is used to prepare other complexes of tungsten. The red crystalline compound is soluble in nonpolar solvents but it reacts with alcohols and water and forms adducts with Lewis bases.[citation needed]

Tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride
Names
Other names
Tungsten(IV) chloride oxide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.033.497 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 236-863-7
  • InChI=1S/4ClH.O.W/h4*1H;;/q;;;;;+4/p-4
    Key: LQNAFXBTXJHEAX-UHFFFAOYSA-J
  • O=[W](Cl)(Cl)(Cl)Cl
Properties
WOCl4
Molar mass 341.651 g/mol
Appearance red crystals
Density 11.92 g/cm3
Melting point 211 °C (412 °F; 484 K)
Boiling point 227.55 °C (441.59 °F; 500.70 K)
reacts
Solubility soluble in benzene and CS2
Hazards
GHS labelling:[1]
GHS07: Exclamation mark
Warning
H315, H319, H335
P261, P264, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, P501
Related compounds
Other anions
Tungsten(VI) oxytetrafluoride
Tungsten(VI) oxytetrabromide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Structure edit

 
Structure of solid WOCl4, illustrating its polymeric structure with short WO and weak W---O bonds in the chains. Color code: O = red.

The solid consists of weakly associated square pyramidal monomers.[2] The compound is classified as an oxyhalide.

Synthesis and reactions edit

WOCl4 is prepared from tungsten trioxide:[3]

WO3 + 2 SOCl2 → WOCl4 + 2 SO2
WCl6 + (Me3Si)2O → WOCl4 + 2 Me3SiCl

WOCl4 is Lewis acidic. It is a precursor to catalysts used for polymerization of alkynes.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Tungsten tetrachloride oxide". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  2. ^ Hess, H.; Hartung, H. (1966). "Die Kristallstruktur von Wolframoxidchlorid WOCl4 und Wolframoxidbromid WOBr4". Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 34 (3–4): 157–166. doi:10.1002/zaac.19663440306.
  3. ^ Nielson, A. J. (2007). "Tungsten and Molybdenum Tetrachloride Oxides". Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 23. pp. 195–198. doi:10.1002/9780470132548.ch41. ISBN 9780470132548. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Hayano, S.; Masuda, T. (1999). "Living Polymerization of [o-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]acetylene by WOCl4-Based Catalysts such as WOCl4-n-Bu4Sn-t-BuOH (1:1:1)". Macromolecules. 32: 7344–7348. doi:10.1002/zaac.19663440306.