Molybdenum(III) chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula MoCl3. It forms purple crystals.[1]
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| Names | |||
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| IUPAC names Molybdenum(III) chloride Molybdenum trichloride | |||
| Identifiers | |||
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.033.418 | ||
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| Properties | |||
| MoCl3 | |||
| Molar mass | 202.30 g/mol | ||
| Appearance | dark red solid paramagnetic | ||
| Density | 3.58 g/cm3 | ||
| Melting point | 410 °C (770 °F; 683 K) (decomposes) | ||
| insoluble | |||
| Solubility | insoluble in ethanol, diethyl ether | ||
| +43.0·10−6 cm3/mol | |||
| Hazards | |||
| Flash point | Non-flammable | ||
| Related compounds | |||
Other anions | Molybdenum(III) fluoride Molybdenum(III) bromide Molybdenum(III) iodide | ||
Other cations | Chromium(IV) chloride Tungsten(V) chloride | ||
Related molybdenum chlorides | Molybdenum(II) chloride Molybdenum(IV) chloride Molybdenum(V) chloride | ||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |||
Synthesis and structure
Molybdenum(III) chloride is synthesized by the reduction of molybdenum(V) chloride with hydrogen.[2] A higher yield is produced by the reduction of pure molybdenum(V) chloride with anhydrous tin(II) chloride as the reducing agent.[3]
Molybdenum trichloride exists as two polymorphs: alpha (α) and beta (β). The alpha structure is similar to that of aluminum chloride (AlCl3). In this structure, molybdenum has octahedral coordination geometry and exhibits cubic close-packing in its crystalline structure. The beta structure, however, exhibits hexagonal close packing.[4]
Ether complexes
Molybdenum trichloride gives a ether complexes MoCl3(thf)3 and MoCl3(Et2O)3. They are beige, paramagnetic solids. Both feature octahedral Mo centers. The diethyl ether complex is synthesized by reducing a Et2O solution of MoCl5 with tin powder.[5] Older procedures involve stepwise reduction involving isolation of the Mo(IV)-thf complex.[6]
Hexa(tert-butoxy)dimolybdenum(III) is prepared by the salt metathesis reaction from MoCl3(thf)3:[7]
- 2 MoCl3(thf)3 + 6 LiOBu-t → Mo2(OBu-t)6 + 6 LiCl + 6 thf