Seleninyl chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula SeOCl2. It is a colorless liquid. With a high dielectric constant (55) and high specific conductance, it is an attractive solvent. Structurally, it is a close chemical relative of thionyl chloride SOCl2, being a pyramidal molecule.
Preparation and reactions
Seleninyl chloride can be prepared by several methods, and a common one involves the conversion of selenium dioxide to dichloroselenious acid followed by dehydration:[3]
- SeO2 + 2 HCl → Se(OH)2Cl2
- Se(OH)2Cl2 → SeOCl2 + H2O
The original synthesis involved the redistribution reaction of selenium dioxide and selenium tetrachloride.
Pure seleninyl chloride autoionizes to a dimer:[4]
- SeOCl2 ↔ (SeO)2Cl+
3 + Cl−
The SeOCl2 is generally a labile Lewis acid and solutions of sulfur trioxide in SeOCl2 likely form [SeOCl]+[SO3Cl]− the same way.[5]
The compound hydrolyzes readily to form hydrogen chloride and selenium dioxide,[citation needed] and very few organic compounds dissolve in it without reaction. At elevated temperatures, it is a strong oxidizer, yielding a chloride, selenium dioxide, and diselenium dichloride.[6]
See also
- Seleninyl bromide (SeOBr2)
- Selenous acid (H2SeO3)
References
- ↑ "Selenium oxychloride". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ↑ "Selenium compounds (as Se)". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
- ↑ Smith, G. B. L.; Jackson, Julius (1950). "Selenium(IV) Oxychloride". Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 3. pp. 130–137. doi:10.1002/9780470132340.ch34. ISBN 9780470132340.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ↑ Audrieth & Kleinberg 1953, p. 237.
- ↑ Audrieth & Kleinberg 1953, pp. 239–242.
- ↑ Audrieth, Ludwig F.; Kleinberg, Jacob (1953). Non-aqueous solvents. New York: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 235–6. LCCN 52-12057.