Solvolytic reactions of Lewis acids in dichloroacetic acid and the nature of the solvolysed products

Tetrachlorides of tin, titanium, zirconium, thorium and silicon form compounds of composition SnCl2(CHCl2COO)2, Ti(CHCl2COO)4, Zr(CHCl2COO)4, Th(CHCl2COO)4 and Si2O(CHCl2COO)6 when refluxed with excess of dichloroacetic acid. From i.r., molecular weight and conductance studies, their structures have been elucidated. Their Lewis acid character is established by isolating and characterizing their adducts with organic tertiary bases. Antimony pentachloride, aluminium trichloride and iron(III) trichloride form compounds of composition SbCl2(CHCl2COO)3, Al(CHCl2COO)3 and FeCl(CHCl2COO)2 when refluxed with excess of the solvent and these have been characterized by i.r. studies.