Tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride

Tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride

Names
Other names Tungsten(IV) chloride oxide
Identifiers
CAS Number	13520-78-0
Jmol interactive 3D	Image
PubChem	19596810
InChI InChI=1S/4ClH.O.W/h4*1H;;/q;;;;-2;/p-4
SMILES [O-2].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[W]
Properties
Chemical formula	WOCl4
Molar mass	341.651 g/mol
Appearance	red crystals
Density	11.92 g/cm^3
Melting point	211 °C (412 °F; 484 K)
Boiling point	227.55 °C (441.59 °F; 500.70 K)
Solubility in water	reacts
Solubility	soluble in benzene and CS2
Hazards
EU classification (DSD)	not listed
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride is the inorganic compound with the formula WOCl₄. This diamagnetic solid is used to prepare other complexes of tungsten. The orange-coloured compound is soluble in nonpolar solvents but it reacts with alcohols and water and forms adducts with Lewis bases. The solid consists of weakly associated square pyramidal monomers.^[1] The compound is classified as an oxyhalide.

WOCl₄ is prepared from tungsten trioxide:^[2]

WO₃ + 2 SOCl₂ → WOCl₄ + 2 SO₂

WCl₆ + (Me₃Si)₂O → WOCl₄ + 2 Me₃SiCl

Reactions

WOCl₄ is Lewis acidic. It is a precursor to catalysts used for polymerization of alkynes.^[3]

References

1. Hess, H.; Hartung, H. (1966). "Die Kristallstruktur von Wolframoxidchlorid WOCl₄ und Wolframoxidbromid WOBr₄". Z. anorg. allgem. Chem. 34: 157–166. doi:10.1002/zaac.19663440306.
2. Nielson, A. J. (1985). "Tungsten and Molybdenum Tetrachloride Oxides". Inorg. Synth. 23: 195–198. doi:10.1002/9780470132548.ch41.
3. 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.