Rhenium oxytetrachloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula ReOCl4. It is a dark red solid.
Structure Infrared and magnetic data indicate square pyramidal geometry.
Preparation Rhenium oxytetrachloride is prepared by reacting rhenium heptoxide with thionyl chloride. Initially a golden-brown complex of perrhenyl chloride with sulfuryl chloride, (ReO3Cl)2,SO2Cl2 is gradually deposited. Upon prolonged contact, this rhenium(VII) complex redissolves with reduction to rhenium(VI). On vacuum evaporation of the thionyl chloride supernatant, or of the final solution after redissolution of the complex, the dark red rhenium oxytetrachloride is obtained. It can also be prepared by heating rhenium pentachloride and dry oxygen in a sealed vessel at 180 °C. Direct chlorination results in an impure product. Rhenium oxytetrachloride is formed quantitatively by heating rhenium metal in sulfuryl chloride at 300 °C.
Reactions Upon reaction with pyridine, an oxotrichlorobispyridinerhenium(V) complex is formed.
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