The photolysis of bis(acetonitrile)tetrachlorotungsten in acetonitrile

When WCl(6) is dissolved in CH(3)CN it is reduced to WCl(4)(CH(3)CN)(2) in a first-order process with a half-life of 52 s. Irradiation of the WCl(4)(CH(3)CN)(2) solution at 365 nm yields WO(2)Cl(2)(CH(3)CN)(2). Further irradiation of this solution with access to air yields a blue, partially reduced form of WO(3) center dot 2H(2)O, which eventually precipitates.