2232. Chromium Carbonyl

Nomenclature

CAS number: 13007-92-6
Chromium hexacarbonyl.
C6CrO6; mol wt 220.06.
C 32.75%, Cr 23.63%, O 43.62%.
Cr(CO)6.

Description and references

Prepn from Cr salts and CO in the presence of a Grignard reagent: Owen et al., Inorg. Synth. 3, 156 (1950); in the presence of Mg and ether: Wender, US 3012858 (1961 to Diamond Alkali); in the presence of Na and diglyme: Podall et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 83, 2057 (1961); in the presence of Na and an aromatic hydrocarbon: Pruett, Wyman, US 3053629 (1962 to Union Carbide); in the presence of I2 and a nitrile: Wotiz, US 3100687 (1963 to Diamond Alkali). Toxicity study: Strohmeier, Z. Naturforsch. 19b, 540 (1964).

Properties

Orthorhombic, highly refractive crystals. Sublimes at room temp. Sinters at 90°; dec at 130°; explodes at 210°. Burns with a luminous flame. d18 1.77. Vapor pressure (mm): 0.04 (0°); 1.0 (48°); 66.5 (100°). Almost insol in water, ethanol, methanol. Sol in ether, CHCl3, other organic solvents. Solns or impure solid dec by light. LD50 i.v. in mice: 100 mg/kg (Strohmeier).

Use

In catalysts for olefin polymerization and isomerization; gasoline additive to increase octane number; prepn of chromous oxide, CrO.