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Vanadium(V) chloride

Names
Other names vanadium pentachloride
Identifiers
CAS Number	1421358-80-6
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image dimer: Interactive image
PubChem CID	13643901
InChI InChI=1S/5ClH.V/h5*1H;/q;;;;;+5/p-5Key: RPESBQCJGHJMTK-UHFFFAOYSA-I
SMILES Cl(Cl)(Cl)(Cl)Cl dimer: Cl1(Cl)(Cl)(Cl)(1)(Cl)(Cl)(Cl)Cl
Properties
Chemical formula	Cl10V2
Molar mass	456.38 g·mol
Appearance	black solid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C , 100 kPa). Infobox references

Vanadium(V) chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula VCl₅. It is a black diamagnetic solid. The molecules adopt a bioctahedral structure similar to that of niobium(V) chloride.

Preparation and reactions

Chlorine cannot oxidise vanadium(IV); chlorination of vanadium metal will yield only vanadium(IV) chloride. Vanadium(V) chloride is instead prepared from vanadium pentafluoride with excess boron trichloride as a chlorinating agent:

2 VF₅ + 10 BCl₃ → [VCl₅]₂ + 10 BF₂Cl

It is unstable at room temperature with respect to vanadium(IV) chloride, which releases gaseous chlorine:

[VCl₅]₂ → 2 VCl₄ + Cl₂

In contrast, the heavier analogues NbCl₅ and TaCl₅ are stable and not particularly oxidizing.

References

1. Tamadon, Farhad; Seppelt, K. (2012). "The Elusive Halides VCl₅, MoCl₆, and ReCl₆". Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 52 (2): 767–769. doi:10.1002/anie.201207552. PMID 23172658.

• Vanadium(V) compounds
• Chlorides
• Metal halides