Tungsten(V) oxytrichloride and oxytribromide. Part III. Thermal disproportionation studies, including the isolation of tungsten(IV) oxydichloride, and an improved preparative procedure for the oxytrihalides

Abstract

The oxytrihalides WOCl₃, WOBr₃, and MoOCl₃ have been prepared by the reaction of the corresponding pentahalides with antimony trioxide. The thermal disproportionation of the tungsten compounds has been examined; WOCl₃ decomposes to WOCl₄ and the new tungsten(IV) compound, WOCl₂, and the WOBr₃ decomposes in a manner similar to MoOCl₃. The properties of WOCl₂ indicate that it is polymeric with both chlorine and oxygen bridging.