Titanium(III) bromide


Titanium bromide is the inorganic compound with the formula TiBr3. It is a blue black paramagnetic solid with a reddish reflection. It has few applications, although it is a catalyst for the polymerization of alkenes.

Production and structure

TiBr3 can be produced by heating the tetrabromide in an atmosphere of hydrogen:
It can also be produced by comproportionation of titanium metal and titanium tetrabromide.
Two polymorphs of TiBr3 are known, each exhibiting octahedral Ti centers.

Reactions

Heating the tribromide gives titanium(II) bromide together with the volatile tetrabromide:
The solid dissolves in donor solvents such as pyridine and nitriles to produce 3:1 adducts: