![]() Anhydrous | |
![]() Tetrahydrate | |
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Names | |
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Other names Indium chloride Indium trichloride | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) | |
ChemSpider | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.030.027 |
EC Number |
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PubChem CID | |
RTECS number |
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UNII | |
UN number | 3260 |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
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Properties | |
InCl3 | |
Molar mass | 221.18 g/mol |
Appearance | white flakes |
Density | 3.46 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 586 °C (1,087 °F; 859 K) |
Boiling point | 800 °C (1,470 °F; 1,070 K) |
195 g/100 mL, exothermic | |
Solubility in other solvents | THF, Ethanol |
Structure | |
Monoclinic, mS16 | |
C12/m1, No. 12 | |
Hazards | |
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards | Corrosive |
GHS labelling: | |
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Danger [1] | |
H302, H314 [1] | |
P260, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P305+P351+P338, P405, P501 [1] | |
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
Related compounds | |
Other anions | Indium(III) fluoride Indium(III) bromide Indium(III) iodide |
Other cations | Aluminium chloride Gallium trichloride Thallium(III) chloride |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). |
Indium(III) chloride is the chemical compound with the formula In Cl3 which forms a tetrahydrate. This salt is a white, flaky solid with applications in organic synthesis as a Lewis acid. It is also the most available soluble derivative of indium. [2] This is one of three known indium chlorides.
Being a relatively electropositive metal, indium reacts quickly with chlorine to give the trichloride. Indium trichloride is very soluble and deliquescent. [3] A synthesis has been reported using an electrochemical cell in a mixed methanol-benzene solution. [4]
Like AlCl3 and TlCl3, InCl3 crystallizes as a layered structure consisting of a close-packed chloride arrangement containing layers of octahedrally coordinated In(III) centers, [5] a structure akin to that seen in YCl3. [6] In contrast, GaCl3 crystallizes as dimers containing Ga2Cl6. [6] Molten InCl3 conducts electricity, [5] whereas AlCl3 does not as it converts to the molecular dimer, Al2Cl6. [7]
InCl3 is a Lewis acid and forms complexes with donor ligands, L, InCl3L, InCl3L2, InCl3L3. For example, with the chloride ion it forms tetrahedral InCl4−, trigonal bipyramidal InCl52−, and octahedral InCl63−. [5]
In diethyl ether solution, InCl3 reacts with lithium hydride, LiH, to form LiInH4. This unstable compound decomposes below 0 °C, [8] and is reacted in situ in organic synthesis as a reducing agent [9] and to prepare tertiary amine and phosphine complexes of InH3. [10]
Trimethylindium, InMe3, can be produced by reacting InCl3 in diethyl ether solution either with the Grignard reagent Me Mg I or methyllithium, LiMe. Triethylindium can be prepared in a similar fashion but with the grignard reagent EtMgBr. [11]
InCl3 reacts with indium metal at high temperature to form the lower valent indium chlorides In5Cl9, In2Cl3 and InCl. [5]
Indium chloride is a Lewis acid catalyst in organic reactions such as Friedel-Crafts acylations and Diels-Alder reactions. As an example of the latter, [12] the reaction proceeds at room temperature, with 1 mole% catalyst loading in an acetonitrile-water solvent mixture. The first step is a Knoevenagel condensation between the barbituric acid and the aldehyde; the second step is a reverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction, which is a multicomponent reaction of N,N'-dimethyl-barbituric acid, benzaldehyde and ethyl vinyl ether. With the catalyst, the reported chemical yield is 90% and the percentage trans isomer is 70%. Without the catalyst added, the yield drops to 65% with 50% trans product.