Description
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
