Formation
Tantalum(III) chloride is formed by reducing tantalum(V) chloride with tantalum metal. this is done by heating tantalum(III) chloride to 305 °C, passing the vapour over tantalum foil at 600°, and condensing the trichloride at 365 °C. If the condensing region is kept at too high a temperature, then TaCl2.5 deposits instead. The trichloride can also be prepared by thermal decomposition of TaCl4, with removal of volatile TaCl5. TaCl5 can be vapourised leaving behind TaCl3. "Properties
Above 500 °C, TaCl3 disproportionates further releasing TaCl5. TaCl3 is insoluble in room temperature water, or dilute acid, but dissolves in boiling water. A blue-green solution is formed.Complexes
Tantalum(III) chloride can form complexes with some ligands as a monomer or dimer. Complexes include Ta(=C-CMe3)(PMe3)2Cl3, 3(P(CH2C6H5)3THF">aCl3(P(CH2C6H5)3THFsub>2μ-N2 and 3THF2">aCl3THF2sub>2μ-N2 (dinitrogen complexes). As a dimer, complexes include Ta2Cl6(SC4H8)3 (SC4H8=tetrahydrothiophene). Ta2Cl6(SMe2)3, Ta2Cl6(thiane)3 and Ta2Cl6(thiolane)3 have a double bond between the two tantalum atoms, and two bridging chlorides, and a bridging ligand.References
{{Chlorides Tantalum compounds Chlorides Non-stoichiometric compounds