Rhenium(VI) chloride
# Rhenium(VI) chloride

Rhenium(VI) chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula $ReCl_6.$ It is a black paramagnetic solid. The molecules adopt an octahedral structure as seen in tungsten(VI) chloride.

## Preparation and reactions

Rhenium(VI) chloride was first generated as a mixture by chlorination of Re films. Bulk samples can be prepared by combining rhenium hexafluoride with excess boron trichloride:

    2 $ReF_6$ + 6 $BCl_3$ → $ReCl_6$ + 6 $BF_2Cl$

It is unstable at room temperature with respect to rhenium(V) chloride:

    2 $ReCl_6$ → $[ReCl_5]_2$ + $Cl_2$
