13470-13-8

gray powder(s); sensitive to moisture; decomposes if heated; diamagnetic; obtained by reduction of WCl6 with Al [KIR83] [STR93]

Tungsten(IV) chloride, WCl4, is a black diamagnetic solid with a polymeric structure. It contains linear chains of tungsten atoms each in octahedral geometry. Of the six chloride ligands linked to each W center, four are bridging ligands. The W- W separations are alternatingly bonding (2.688 A? ) and nonbonding (3.787 A? ). WCl4 is typically produced by reducing WCl6. Many reductants have been reported, including red phosphorus, tungsten hexacarbonyl, gallium, tin, and antimony. The latter is reported to be optimal.
3WCl6+2Sb→3WCl4 +2SbCl3

The product may be used as one of the precursor reactant for the preparation of highly conductive tungsten diselenide nanosheets.