Tungsten hexachloride
IUPAC name	Tungsten hexachloride Tungsten(VI) chloride
Identifiers
CAS number	13283-01-7 Y
RTECS number	YO7710000
Properties
Molecular formula	WCl6
Molar mass	396.61 g/mol
Appearance	dark blue crystals, moisture sensitive
Density	3.52 g/cm3
Melting point	275 °C
Boiling point	346.7 °C
Solubility in water	hydrolyzes
Solubility in chlorocarbons	soluble
Structure
Crystal structure	α:rhombohedral, β: hexagonal
Coordination geometry	octahedral
Dipole moment	0 D
Hazards
EU Index	Not listed
Main hazards	oxidizer; hydrolysis releases HCl
Related compounds
Other anions	Tungsten hexafluoride Tungsten hexabromide
Other cations	Molybdenum(V) chloride Chromyl chloride
Y (what is this?)  (verify) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Tungsten hexachloride is the chemical compound of tungsten and chlorine with the formula WCl₆. This dark violet blue species exists as a volatile solid under standard conditions. It is an important starting reagent in the preparation of tungsten compounds.^[1] WCl₆ is a rare example of a charge neutral hexachloride, another example being ReCl₆. MoCl₆ cannot be prepared. Better known than WCl₆ is the still more volatile WF₆.

As a d⁰ ion, W(VI) forms diamagnetic derivatives. The hexachloride is octahedral with equivalent W-Cl distances of 2.24 - 2.26 Å.^[2] In the WCl₆, the chloride ligands are donors in both sigma- and pi senseDoes this refer to MO's?^{[citation needed]}. Methylation with trimethylaluminium affords hexamethyl tungsten. Treatment with butyl lithium affords a reagent that is useful for deoxygenation of epoxides.^[3]

The chloride ligands in WCl₆ can be replaced by many anionic ligands including Br⁻, NCS⁻, and RO⁻ (R = alkyl, aryl).

[edit] Safety considerations

WCl₆ is an aggressively corrosive oxidant and hydrolyzes to release hydrogen chloride.

[edit] References