Oxide chlorides of tungsten and molybdenum. Part II. Crystal structure of the monoclinic form of molybdenum oxide trichloride

Abstract

The crystal structure of the monoclinic form of molybdenum(V) oxide trichloride, MoOCl₃, has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray photographic data. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c with Z= 4 in a unit cell of dimensions a= 5·74, b= 13·51, c= 6·03 Å, and β= 92·9°. The structure is based on an infinite zig-zag chain of molybdenum atoms. Each molybdenum atom has two pairs of bridging chlorine atoms, and cis terminal oxygen and chlorine atoms in a distorted octahedral environment.