The reactivity of molybdenum and tungsten trioxide vapours towards organic and inorganic compounds at –196 °C
Abstract
Vapours of molybdenum and tungsten trioxides, prepared by heating the solid oxides under vacuum, have been reacted with organic compounds and some inorganic halides at –196 °C. Complexes of the trioxides are formed with pentane-2,4-dione, acetone, formic acid, and methanol, but the oxides fail to bring about metathesis or isomerisation of olefins. Oxygen–halogen exchange reactions occur between the trioxides and BCl3, SiCl4, and HCl; PCl3 is oxidised. The reactivity of the condensed vapours of both oxides at –196 °C is markedly higher than the reactivity of the normal solid oxides at room temperature.