Tungsten tetrachloride, or tungsten (IV) chloride, is a diamagnetic black solid with the molecular formula of WCl4, CAS number of 13470-13-8, and a density of 4.62g/cm3. The hygroscopicity of WCl4 is less strong than WCl5, but it’s easy to hydrolyze. WCl4 does not melt or sublimate even if heated, but it resolves at melting point or hydrolyzes in a vacuum. WCl4 is an inorganic compound with corrosivity. The compound is of interest in research as one of a handful of binary tungsten chlorides.
Preparation
WCl4 is usually prepared by reducing tungsten hexachloride. Many reductants have been reported, including red phosphorus, tungsten hexacarbonyl, gallium, tin, and antimony. The latter is reported to be optimal.
Structure
Like most binary metal halides, WCl4 is polymeric. It consists of a linear chain of tungsten atoms each in octahedral geometry. Of six chloride ligands attached to each W center, four are bridging ligands. The W-W separations are alternatingly bonding and nonbonding.
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