Tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride

Tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride is the inorganic compound with the formula Template:Chem2. 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.Template:Cln

Structure

File:WOCl4crystal.png

Structure of solid Template:Chem2, illustrating its polymeric structure with short W≡O and weak W---O bonds in the chains.
Template:Color box Oxygen, O; Template:Color box Chlorine, Cl; Template:Color box Tungsten, W

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

Synthesis and reactions

Template:Chem2 is prepared from tungsten trioxide or hexachloride:

Template:Chem2

Template:Chem2

It is "difficult to prepare by other means," but thionyl chloride also oxidizes tungsten(IV) oxide to the oxytetrachloride at 200 °C.

Template:Chem2 is a Lewis acid. It is a precursor to catalysts used for polymerization of alkynes.