Tungsten oxytetrafluoride is an inorganic compound with the formula . It is a colorless diamagnetic solid. The compound is one of many oxides of tungsten. It is usually encountered as product of the partial hydrolysis of tungsten hexafluoride.
As confirmed by X-ray crystallography, crystallizes as a tetramer. The oxides are terminal, and four of the fluorides are bridging. Its structure is similar to those for niobium pentafluoride and tantalum pentafluoride. In contrast, molybdenum oxytetrafluoride adopts a polymeric structure, although again the fluorides bridge and the oxides are terminal.
In the gas state, this molecule is a monomer. It can form complexes with acetonitrile and other compounds.
Tungsten(VI) oxytetrafluoride can be synthesized by the reaction of fluorine and tungsten trioxide.
It can also be obtained by treating tungsten with a mixture of oxygen and fluorine at high temperatures. Partial hydrolysis of tungsten hexafluoride also produces .
The reaction of tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride and hydrogen fluoride also produces .
can also prepared by the reaction of lead(II) fluoride and tungsten trioxide at 700 ðC.
Tungsten(VI) oxytetrafluoride hydrolyzes into tungstic acid.