Molybdenum(VI) chloride


Molybdenum chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula MoCl6. It is a black diamagnetic solid. The molecules adopt an octahedral structure as seen in tungsten chloride.

Preparation and reactions

Molybdenum chloride is prepared from the molybdenum hexafluoride with excess boron trichloride:
It is unstable at room temperature with respect to molybdenum chloride and decomposition completes within several days: