Tungsten oxytetrafluoride is an

inorganic compound In chemistry, an inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds, that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as '' inorganic chemist ...

with the formula WOF₄. It is a colorless diamagnetic solid. The compound is one of many oxides of tungsten. It is usually encountered as product of the partial hydrolysis of

tungsten hexafluoride Tungsten(VI) fluoride, also known as tungsten hexafluoride, is an inorganic compound with the formula W F6. It is a toxic, corrosive, colorless gas, with a density of about (roughly 11 times heavier than air). It is one of the densest known gase ...

Structure

As confirmed by X-ray crystallography, WOF₄ crystallizes as a tetramer. The oxides are terminal, and four of the fluorides are bridging. Its structure is similar to those for niobium pentafluoride and

tantalum pentafluoride Tantalum(V) fluoride is the inorganic compound with the formula TaF5. It is one of the principal molecular compounds of tantalum. Characteristic of some other pentafluorides, the compound is volatile but exists as an oligomer in the solid state ...

. In contrast,

molybdenum oxytetrafluoride Molybdenum oxytetrafluoride is the inorganic compound with the formula MoOF4. It is a white, diamagnetic solid. According to X-ray crystallography, it is a coordination polymer consisting of a linear chain of alternating Mo and F atoms. Each Mo ...

adopts a polymeric structure, although again the fluorides bridge and the oxides are terminal. In the gas state, this molecule is a monomer. It can form complexes with

acetonitrile Acetonitrile, often abbreviated MeCN (methyl cyanide), is the chemical compound with the formula and structure . This colourless liquid is the simplest organic nitrile (hydrogen cyanide is a simpler nitrile, but the cyanide anion is not clas ...

and other compounds.

Preparation

Tungsten(VI) oxytetrafluoride can be synthesized by the reaction of

fluorine Fluorine is a chemical element with the symbol F and atomic number 9. It is the lightest halogen and exists at standard conditions as a highly toxic, pale yellow diatomic gas. As the most electronegative reactive element, it is extremely reacti ...

and

tungsten trioxide Tungsten(VI) oxide, also known as tungsten trioxide is a chemical compound of oxygen and the transition metal tungsten, with formula WO3. The compound is also called tungstic anhydride, reflecting its relation to tungstic acid . It is a light ...

. It can also be obtained by treating tungsten with a mixture of oxygen and

at high temperatures. Partial hydrolysis of

will also produce WOF₄. : The reaction of

tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride Tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride is the inorganic compound with the formula W O Cl4. This diamagnetic solid is used to prepare other complexes of tungsten. The yellow-green compound is soluble in nonpolar solvents but it reacts with alcohols an ...

and

hydrogen fluoride Hydrogen fluoride (fluorane) is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . This colorless gas or liquid is the principal industrial source of fluorine, often as an aqueous solution called hydrofluoric acid. It is an important feedstock i ...

will also produce WOF₄. : WOF₄ can also prepared by the reaction of

lead(II) fluoride Lead(II) fluoride is the inorganic compound with the formula Pb F2. It is a white solid. It exists as both an orthorhombic and cubic forms. Uses Lead(II) fluoride is used in low melting glasses, in glass coatings to reflect infrared rays, ...

and

at 700 °C. : Tungsten(VI) oxytetrafluoride hydrolyzes into

tungstic acid Tungstic acid refers to hydrated forms of tungsten trioxide, WO3. Both a monohydrate (WO3·H2O) and hemihydrate (WO3·1/2 H2O) are known. Molecular species akin to sulfuric acid, i.e. (HO)2WO2 are not observed. The solid-state structure of ...

. :

References

Metal halides Tungsten compounds Oxyfluorides {{inorganic-compound-stub