Vanadium hexacarbonyl

Chemical compound

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Vanadium hexacarbonyl is a chemical compound with the formula V(CO)_. It is a metal carbonyl, a class of compounds that contain carbon monoxide ligands bound to a metal center. Vanadium hexacarbonyl is notable for being one of the few homoleptic metal carbonyls of vanadium.

Structure and bonding

Vanadium hexacarbonyl is an octahedral complex, with six carbon monoxide ligands symmetrically arranged around a central vanadium atom. The V–C bond distances are typically around 2.0 Å, and the C–O bond distances are approximately 1.15 Å. The compound is diamagnetic, indicating that the vanadium is in the +0 oxidation state, with a d_ electron configuration.

Synthesis

Vanadium hexacarbonyl can be synthesized by the reduction of vanadium pentachloride (VCl_) in the presence of carbon monoxide. The reaction is typically carried out under high pressure of CO and at elevated temperatures. An alternative method involves the reduction of vanadium(III) chloride (VCl_) with sodium amalgam in the presence of CO.

Reactions

Vanadium hexacarbonyl is relatively stable but can undergo substitution reactions where one or more CO ligands are replaced by other ligands. It can also be oxidized to form vanadium pentacarbonyl cation, [V(CO)_]_, in the presence of oxidizing agents.

Applications

While vanadium hexacarbonyl itself does not have significant industrial applications, it is of interest in academic research. It serves as a precursor to other vanadium compounds and is used in studies of metal carbonyl chemistry.

Safety

Like many metal carbonyls, vanadium hexacarbonyl is toxic and should be handled with care. It can release carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, upon decomposition.

Related pages

• Metal carbonyl
• Vanadium
• Carbon monoxide

References

• Cotton, F. Albert; Wilkinson, Geoffrey (1988). Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. Wiley-Interscience. ISBN 0-471-84997-9.
• Elschenbroich, C.; Salzer, A. (1992). Organometallics: A Concise Introduction. VCH. ISBN 3-527-28165-7.