Some reactions of uranium chloride pentafluoride

Abstract

The molecule UF₅Cl has been isolated, together with an excess of UF₆, in a solid matrix of Ar, N₂, or CO and characterised by its i.r. spectrum. Under these conditions it dissociates under the action of radiation having wavelengths close to 500 nm to give UF₅; OCCl˙ and OCClF are also formed on photolysis in a solid CO matrix, whereas a species believed to be U₂F₁₁ is formed on photolysis in a solid N₂ matrix. CCl₃F solutions of fluoride-rich mixtures of uranium(VI) chloride fluorides have been shown to function as chlorinating, fluorinating, or chlorofluorinating reagents in their reactions with various unsaturated molecules at temperatures low enough to preclude thermal decomposition of the mixed halides (< –60 °C).