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-5 Key: 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−1
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.^[1]

Preparation and reactions

Vanadium(V) chloride is prepared from the vanadium pentafluoride with excess boron trichloride:

2 VF₅ + 10 BCl₃ → ₂ + 10 BF₂Cl

It is unstable at room temperature with respect to vanadium(IV) chloride:

₂ → 2 VCl₄ + Cl₂

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

References