The Synthesis and Luminescence of W₆Cl₁₂ and Mo₆Cl₁₂ Revisited

Abstract

Abstract The reduction of tungsten hexachloride with bismuth yields the new compound (BiCl)[W 6 Cl 14 ]. Dissolution of this compound in HCl yields the cluster acid (H 3 O) 2 [W 6 Cl 14 ]·7H 2 O and the new byproduct (H 5 O 2 ) 2 [W 6 Cl 12 O 6 ]·4H 2 O. The single‐crystal structures of all these compounds are reported. Their appearance provides some new insight into the mechanism and apparent problems of the synthesis of pure W 6 Cl 12 . Both Mo 6 Cl 12 and W 6 Cl 12 are strongly red luminescent materials.