Originally posted by Dr. Beaker
if you want something to be ionized you need the ions to be stabilized in solution.
ether, being a lewis base does not do a good job in solvating anions. and also, group IV metals at the IV oxidation state are HIGHLY electrophilic.
ie:
TiCl4+Cl- -----> TiCl5-
TiCl4+Et2O -----> TiCl4*Et2O (etherate)
but TiCl4 ----> TiCl3+ + Cl- is unlikely
(equivalent to HCl ---> H- + Cl+)
or in other words - TiCl4 is a too strong lewis acid to give away a cloride. (which is a bare ion in ether!)
[Edited on 29-10-2006 by Dr. Beaker] |