Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
8431298 
Journal Article 
The Chemistry of the Boron Subhalides. I. Some Properties of Tetraboron Tetrachloride, B4Cl4 
Urry, G; Garrett, AG; Schlesinger, HI 
1963 
Yes 
Inorganic Chemistry
ISSN: 0020-1669
EISSN: 1520-510X 
2 
2 
396-400 
English 
The characterization of tetraboron tetrachloride is described along with some of the physical properties of this compound. Some of its chemical properties are compared with those of diboron tetrachloride. Like B2Cl4, tetraboron tetrachloride reacts violently with dry air, emitting light and forming boron trichloride and white solids in the process. In reactions with methylating agents such as dimethylzinc, B4Cl3CH3 is the main product. In reactions with water or methanol, B4Cl4 evolves 3 moles of H2 and 4 moles of hydrogen chloride in the hydrolysis and 4 moles of methyl chloride in the methanolysis. Tetraboron tetrachloride appears to react with dimethylamine in a fashion similar to that of diboron tetrachloride since a product, tentatively identified as B4[N(CH3)2]4, is formed with no evolution of hydrogen. Diethyl ether solutions of B4Cl4 slowly evolve ethyl chloride. Tetraboron tetrachloride, unlike B2Cl4, does not react with ethylene or phosphorus trichloride. © 1963, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.