Potassium Hexachlororhodate(III)

Basic Information of Potassium Hexachlororhodate(III)

CAS No.	13845-07-3
EC No.	237-569-5
Chemical Formula	K₃RhCl₆
Molecular Weight	484.46 g/mol
Appearance	Dark red to reddish-brown crystalline powder
Odor	Odorless
Melting point	Decomposes before melting (>300 °C)
Boiling point	Not applicable (decomposes)
Density	approx. 2.9–3.1 g/cm³
Solubility	Highly soluble in water (>500 g/L); soluble in methanol, ethanol
Nature (hazards)	Causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause allergic skin reaction, harmful if swallowed, toxic to aquatic life
RIDADR	UN 3288, Toxic solid, inorganic, n.o.s. (Potassium hexachlororhodate(III)), Class 6.1, Packing Group III
Chemical Structure

Primary Applications of Potassium Hexachlororhodate(III)

Potassium Hexachlororhodate(III) functions as a water-soluble Rh(III) precursor, enabling efficient catalyst generation and rhodium incorporation in aqueous or polar-phase processes.

1. Wilkinson's Catalyst Preparation
   Serves as a convenient rhodium source for synthesizing Wilkinson's catalyst [RhCl(PPh₃)₃] in aqueous or alcoholic media, the benchmark for selective homogeneous hydrogenation in pharmaceutical production.

2. Supported Rhodium Catalyst Impregnation
   Used in wet impregnation of carbon, alumina, or silica supports to create high-dispersion Rh catalysts for hydrogenation, hydroformylation, and automotive emission control.

3. Hydroformylation & Carbonylation Catalysis
   Provides Rh(III) for preparing rhodium-based hydroformylation catalysts, enabling efficient conversion of alkenes to aldehydes in oxo-alcohol and specialty chemical manufacturing.

4. Organometallic Rhodium Complex Synthesis
   Acts as starting material for preparing Rh(III) and reduced Rh(I) complexes with phosphines, amines, or other ligands in homogeneous catalysis and materials research.

5. C–H Activation & Functionalization
   Facilitates Rh-catalyzed direct C–H arylation and borylation in aqueous media, supporting greener synthetic routes to functionalized molecules.

6. Aqueous-Phase & Green Catalysis
   Enables rhodium-catalyzed reactions in water, reducing organic solvent use and enabling environmentally friendlier processes in fine chemical and pharmaceutical production.

• Precise Rhodium Content & Purity
  Advanced quality assurance ensures accurate Rh assay, low residual impurities, and batch consistency for dependable catalyst or process performance.

• Secure Precious Metal Sourcing
  Transparent, responsible rhodium procurement with inventory management to ensure supply reliability and competitive pricing.

• Technical Process Support
  Dedicated specialists provide advice on dissolution, reduction protocols, catalyst activation, and aqueous-phase optimization for enhanced efficiency.

• Full Regulatory Compliance
  Comprehensive COA, REACH, RoHS, and detailed SDS documentation to facilitate seamless integration into global operations and audits.

• Sustainability & Recycling Programs
  Ethical sourcing practices and rhodium recovery/recycling programs aligned with ESG goals and sustainable chemistry principles.

Hazards Classification

• GHS Classification: Skin Corrosion/Irritation (Category 1B); Serious Eye Damage (Category 1); Skin Sensitization (Category 1); Acute Toxicity, Oral (Category 4); Aquatic Chronic (Category 2)

• Hazard Statements: H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage; H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction; H302: Harmful if swallowed; H411: Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

• UN Number: UN 3288

• Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic substances)

• Packing Group: III