Tungsten(III) chloride

Tungsten(III) chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula W₆Cl₁₈. It is a cluster compound. It is a brown solid, obtainable by chlorination of tungsten(II) chloride. Featuring twelve doubly bridging chloride ligands, the cluster adopts a structure related to the corresponding chlorides of niobium and tantalum. In contrast, W₆Cl₁₂ features eight triply bridging chlorides.

A related mixed valence W(III)-W(IV) chloride is prepared by reduction of the hexachloride with bismuth:

9 WCl₆ 8 Bi → 3 W₃Cl₁₀ 8 BiCl₃

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