[workingundergrad1896]

I need some BiCl3 for an organic reaction I'm doing, however we only have BiOCl and I was wondering if i could use this to make the BiCl3. I've searched around for a prep but can't find one. I know I need at least twice as many moles of HCl as BiOCl, but I've read that the recrystallisation must be done in conc. HCl to prevent hydrolysis.

Does anyone have any suggestions or even a prep? I was thinking a standard recrystallisation by warming as little conc. HCl as possible to dissolve my required quantity of BiOCl and converting it to BiCl3, then cooling, recrystallising and drying. One issue I'll have is that BiCl3 hydrolyses extremely quickly. I'm not sure how I'd go about recrystallising and then either drying and washing or subliming before it has mostly hydrolysed. Should i do the re crystallisation in nitrogen to prevent moisture from the air entering?

I'm not really an inorganic chemist so any advice is greatly appreciated.

[chenbeier]

Maybe react with Thionylchloride

BiOCl + SOCl₂ => BiCl₃ + SO₂

You will get very dry BiCl₃

[workingundergrad1896]

Hmm. I can't seem to find any information on what BiOCl is soluble in.

So perhaps if I could find a solvent that disslve BiOCl and SOCl2 but not BiCl3 it would precipitate out of solution.

[chenbeier]

You dont have to dissolve it. Put BiOCl in a round flask and add a cooler on top add slowly the thionylchloride and reflux it. SO2 will evaporate.