Solvolytic reactions of Lewis acids in dichloroacetic acid and the nature of the solvolysed products

Abstract

Tetrachlorides of tin, titanium, zirconium, thorium and silicon form compounds of composition SnCl₂(CHCl₂COO)₂, Ti(CHCl₂COO)₄, Zr(CHCl₂COO)₄, Th(CHCl₂COO)₄ and Si₂O(CHCl₂COO)₆ when refluxed with excess of dichloroacetic acid. From i.r., molecular weight and conductance studies, their structures have been elucidated. Their Lewis acid character is established by isolating and characterizing their adducts with organic tertiary bases. Antimony pentachloride, aluminium trichloride and iron(III) trichloride form compounds of composition SbCl₂(CHCl₂COO)₃, Al(CHCl₂COO)₃ and FeCl(CHCl₂COO)₂ when refluxed with excess of the solvent and these have been characterized by i.r. studies.