Rhenium trichloride dioxide, ReO2Cl3

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.200504468

(Figure Presented) Re-discovery: The only rhenium(VII)-chlorine compound known previously was ReO₃Cl, and chloride oxides of composition AO₂Cl₃ (A = nonmetal or metal) were completely unknown. The synthesis of ReO₂Cl₃ has now been achieved. The compound exists as a chlorine-bridged dimer (see Figure; Re red, O blue, Cl green) in the solid state, and as a monomer in solution.

Full text of DOI:10.1002/anie.200504468

Angewandte
Chemie
Rhenium Chloride Oxides
directly from the excess BCl3 [Eq. (3)]. The orange-colored
product solutions contain ReO2Cl3, as well as small amounts
of ReOCl4. Purification can be accomplished by fractional
crystallization.
DOI: 10.1002/anie.200504468
Rhenium Trichloride Dioxide, ReO2Cl3**
ReO3Cl þ AlCl3 ! ReO2Cl3 þ ðAlOClÞx
Re2O7 þ 3 AlCl3 ! 2 ReO2Cl3 þ 3 ðAlOClÞx
ReO3Cl þ BCl3 ! ReO2Cl3 þ ðBOClÞx
ð1Þ
ð2Þ
ð3Þ
Joanna Supeł and Konrad Seppelt*
ꢀ
Rhenium(VII) is widespread, for example, in ReO4 and
ReF7. Of the binary rhenium chlorides, the highest is ReCl5; a
postulated ReCl6 was also revealed to be ReCl5.[1,2] However,
hexavalent rhenium is found in ReOCl4.[3] The only known
rhenium(VII)–chlorine compound is ReO3Cl, which can be
The large orange crystals of ReO2Cl3 are easily distin-
guished from the dark red needles of ReOCl4 and its adducts,
and from the colorless platelets of ReO3Cl. Accordingto the
single-crystal structure determination, ReO2Cl3 is composed
of cyclic chlorine-bridged {ReO2Cl3}2 dimers with nearly
perfect D2h symmetry (Figure 1). The cis orientation of the
prepared in several ways and in large quantities.[4,5]
A
compound richer in chlorine would be ReO2Cl3; interestingly,
no examples of chloride oxides of composition AO2Cl3 (A =
nonmetal or metal) have yet been reported. In contrast,
several of the correspondingoxide fluorides AO 2F3 (A = Cl, I,
Re, Os, Tc) have been described.
In the 1930s, attempts were made to prepare ReO2Cl3 (for
example, through the reaction of rhenium with O2 and Cl2[6]);
however, they are now known to have been unsuccessful. The
properties of the product obtained at that time are not
consistent with those of ReO2Cl3, presented herein. We were
also unable to confirm the results of a 1974 publication, in
which the isolation of ReO2Cl3 by vacuum sublimation from
the reaction of ReO3Cl with ReOCl4, WOCl4, or MoOCl4 was
reported.[7] We attempted to reproduce the most promising
reaction, that of ReO3Cl with WOCl4, and did indeed obtain a
red-brown sublimate, as previously described. However, this
product was unambiguously characterized as ReO3Cl·ReOCl4
by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.[8,9] The reaction conditions,
namely heatingat 100 or 180 8C for several hours, are also
inconsistent with the thermal properties of our ReO2Cl3,
which decomposes at lower temperatures.
Figure 1. Molecular structure of ReO2Cl3 (ORTEP representation, with
thermal ellipsoids set at 50% probability). Selected interatomic
distances [pm] and angles [8], along with their calculated values
(italics), are indicated.
two double-bonded oxygen atoms at each rhenium center is
typical for dioxo compounds of transition metals. Terminal
chlorine atoms complete the (distorted) octahedral environ-
ments of the rhenium atoms. The meltingpoint of 35–38 8C is
reached without decomposition. Further heatingresults in
decomposition and dark coloring. A congruent boiling point
is not observed. Upon longer storage at room temperature,
progressively more ReOCl4 is formed.
The vibrational spectra of the solid are in accord with the
D2h molecular structure and, thus, with the mutual exclusion
rule. The structure and vibrational spectra of ReO2Cl3 can be
reproduced well with a density functional theory (DFT)
calculation.[11] If the calculated energy values are assumed to
be similarly trustworthy, an energy of dimerization of
DH = ꢀ0.3 kcalmolꢀ1 is obtained for the equilibrium
2ReO2Cl3 (CS) QRe2O4Cl6 (D2h). This low value indicates
that the monomer could be observed as well. Indeed, the
compound seems to be monomeric in CCl4 or Cl2 solutions, as
the Raman spectra of dissolved ReO2Cl3 are considerably
different from that of the solid. The calculated structure of
monomeric ReO2Cl3 is trigonal bipyramidal, with the double-
bonded oxygen atoms in equatorial positions (Scheme 1). A
square-pyramidal structure, and a trigonal-bipyramidal struc-
ture with the double-bonded oxygen atoms in the axial
In attempts to produce a largely uncoordinated ReO3+ ion
by chloride-ion abstraction from ReO3Cl, we treated ReO3Cl
with AlCl3 [Eq. (1)]. This reaction was already tried in 1979,
but only the adduct ReO3Cl·AlCl3 was identified by elemental
analysis at that time.[10] We observed a slow reaction at room
temperature in CFCl3, with the formation of an orange-
colored solution of ReO2Cl3 (ReO3Cl is colorless, and AlCl3 is
nearly insoluble). At elevated temperatures, ReOCl4 is
formed, as evidenced by the intense dark red color of the
solution. Alternatively, Re2O7 can be treated with AlCl3 to
produce ReO2Cl3 [Eq. (2)]. Moreover, the use of BCl3 instead
of AlCl3 is advantageous, as the reaction proceeds homoge-
nously without solvent, and ReO2Cl3 can be recrystallized
[*] Dipl.-Chem. J. Supeł, Prof. Dr. K. Seppelt
FB Bio/Chem/Pharm, Institut für Chemie
Anorganische und Analytische Chemie
Freie Universität Berlin
Fabeckstrasse 34–36, 14195 Berlin (Germany)
Fax: (+49)30-8385-3310
E-mail: seppelt@chemie.fu-berlin.de
[**] We thank the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Fonds der
Chemischen Industrie for financial support.
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Communications
polymer, and also as cyclic fluorine-bridged trimers and
tetramers;[13,14] in ReO3F, the rhenium atoms reach a coordi-
nation number of 6 through oxygen and fluorine bridges.[14] It
is anticipated that ReO2Cl3 can be transformed into a
ꢀ
ReO2Cl2+ cation and a cis-ReO2Cl4 anion.
Scheme 1. Calculated structures of monomeric ReO2Cl3. Selected interatomic
distances [pm] and angles [8] are indicated.
Experimental Section
ReO2Cl3: a) ReO3Cl (1 mmol, 270 mg), prepared according to
reference [4], was combined with excess AlCl3 (10–15 mmol, 1.3–
2 mg). Upon mixing, the color of the solution changed to orange.
After 30 min, the components that are volatile at room temperature
were transferred under dynamic vacuum into a trap at ꢀ1968C. CFCl3
(3 mL) was then condensed onto the mixture. By slowly coolingthe
solution to ꢀ788C, large orange crystals of ReO2Cl3 (ca. 100 mg,
31%) were obtained, which could be easily separated from unreacted
ReO3Cl (colorless platelets) and ReOCl4 (dark red needles). M.p. 35–
388C, with color change to red. Elemental analysis (%) found for
ReO2Cl3: Cl 32.95; calcd: 32.74. b) Re2O7 and AlCl3 were mixed in
the molar ratio 1:15 and shaken at room temperature. The product
was isolated as described above, but with poorer yield and purity.
c) ReO3Cl (0.55 mmol, 150 mg) and BCl3 (256 mmol, 3 g; free of HCl)
were condensed into a glass ampoule. The mixture was briefly
warmed and mixed at room temperature. Slow coolingof the red-
green BCl3 solution to ꢀ608C afforded orange crystals of ReO2Cl3
(175 mg, 97%). Longer reaction times and the presence of HCl led to
the formation of ReOCl4, which crystallizes as red needles that are
easily distinguished from ReO2Cl3.
positions are transition states with considerably higher
energies.
In the presence of small amounts of water, the mono-
hydrate ReO2Cl3·H2O is formed (Figure 2). The ability to
IR (solid, NaCl, polyethylene): n˜ = 964.1 (m), 934.9 (s), 371 cmꢀ1
(s, br); calculated values:[11] n˜ = 1013.6 (228), 993.3 (206), 371.5 (125),
365.1 (9.6), 348.7 cmꢀ1 (1.6), and eight other absorptions in the range
278–76 cmꢀ1. Raman (solid): n˜ = 979 (100), 948 (40), 385 (95), 357
(30), 283 (45), 261 (90), 255 (sh), 180 (sh), 164 (25), 123 (45), 105 (10),
82 cmꢀ1 (14); calculated values: n˜ = 1016.5 (136), 981.9 (76), 366.3
(24.4), 356.1 (0.7), 348.7 (27.2), 266 (24.5), 246.6 (5.4), 245.6 (0.1),
175.1 (0.14), 149.4 (9.7), 122.7 (4.5), 107.2 (2.1), 90.5 (1.1), 46.9 cmꢀ1
(0.26). Raman (Cl2 solution): n˜ = 1000 (40, p), 950 (5, dp), 539, 546
(Cl2), 400 (100, p), 338 (20, p), 309 (10, dp), 264 (30, dp), 215 (2, dp),
195 (15, dp), 158 cmꢀ1 (30, p); calculated values: n˜ = 1016.7 (48.3, p),
982.2 (14.3, dp), 381.8 (20.8, p), 354.4 (0.0, dp), 321.1 (9.3, p), 292.5
(8.1, p), 272.7 (7.5, dp), 263.9 (9.1, dp), 213.2 (0.2, dp), 191 (1.7, dp),
145.7 (4.0, p), 36.5 cmꢀ1 (1.3, dp). MS: most abundant fragment at
m/z = 308 [187Re35Cl3O]+, as well as isotopomers of 185/187Re and 35/37Cl.
Crystal structures: crystals were mounted at ꢀ1008C on a Smart
CCD diffractometer; full spheres of data were collected, 1800 frames
separated by Dw = 0.38; the structures were solved and refined with
the SHELX programs.[15] ReO2Cl3: orange crystal; 2qmax = 618, 8385
measured, 822 independent reflections; a = 797.3(1), b = 813.2(1), c =
774.1(1) pm, Pnnm, Z = 4, R = 0.014, wR2 = 0.039. ReO2Cl3·H2O:
brown needle; 2qmax = 61.08, 3459 measured, 1657 independent
reflections; a = 543.4(2), b = 616.9(2), c = 944.5 pm, a = 93.42(1),
Figure 2. Molecular structure of the hydrate ReO2Cl3·H2O (ORTEP
representation, with thermal ellipsoids set at 50% probability).
Hydrogen atoms are in assumed positions. Selected interatomic
distances [pm] are indicated.
form a detectable hydrate, in spite of hydrolytic sensitivity, is
common to ReO2Cl3 and ReOCl4.[12] If the reaction temper-
ature is too high, a large amount of ReOCl4 is produced as a
byproduct, and the adduct ReO2Cl3·ReOCl4 crystallizes. This
adduct also contains a {ReO2Cl3}2 dimer, in this case with
slightly asymmetric chlorine bridges (Figure 3). Two
{ReOCl4} molecules are coordinated by oxygen atoms from
the dimer to form a {ReO3Cl·ReOCl4}2 tetramer.
A preference for a coordination number of 6 is often
observed in oxide halides of the transition metals, especially
in the oxide fluorides: ReO2F3 exists as a fluorine-bridged
¯
b = 104.39(1), g = 98.0(1)8, P1, Z = 2, R = 0.067, wR2 = 0.166.
ReO2Cl3·ReOCl4: black needle; 2qmax = 83.68, 29579 measured,
7210 independent reflections; a = 615.7(1), b = 1087.7(1), c =
1617.0(2) pm, b = 94.939(4)8, P21/n, Z = 4, R = 0.048, wR2 = 0.097.
Further details on the crystal structure investigations may be obtained
from the Fachinformationszentrum Karlsruhe, 76344 Eggenstein-
Leopoldshafen, Germany (fax: (+ 49)7247-808-666; e-mail: crys-
data@fiz-karlsruhe.de), on quotingthe depository numbers CSD-
416056 (ReO2Cl3), CSD-416057 (ReO2Cl3·H2O), CSD-416053
¯
(ReO2Cl3·ReOCl4), and CSD-416429 (ReO3Cl·ReOCl4, P1).
Figure 3. Molecular structure of the adduct ReO2Cl3·ReOCl4 (ORTEP
representation, with thermal ellipsoids set at 50% probability).
Selected interatomic distances [pm] and angles [8] are indicated.
Received: December 16, 2005
Revised: March 16, 2006
Published online: June 21, 2006
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[14] J. Supeł, R. Marx, K. Seppelt, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 2005, 631,
Keywords: rhenium oxide halides · rhenium ·
structure elucidation · synthetic methods
.
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SHELXS-97, Program for crystal structure solution, Universität
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[8] Crystal structures of ReO3Cl·ReOCl4: a = 576.7(1), b = 593.4(1),
c = 773.9(1) pm, a = 70.159(3), b = 79.918(3), g = 85.225(3)8, P1,
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521.2(1), b = 876.9(1), c = 1100.2(1) pm, a = 67.774(4), b =
¯
81.311(4), g = 79.973(5)8, P1, Z = 2, ꢀ1008C, R = 0.023, wR2 =
0.054.
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