Characteristic
Cerium(III) chloride (CeCl3), also known as cerous chloride or cerium trichloride, is a compound of cerium and chlorine. It is a white hygroscopic solid; it rapidly absorbs water on exposure to moist air to form a hydrate, which appears to be of variable composition, though the heptahydrate CeCl3·7H2O is known.
Chemical formula:CeCl3•7H2O
Molar mass:372.58 g/mol
Appearance:fine white powder
Density:3.97 g/cm3
Melting point:90 °C (decomposes)
Boiling point:1,727 °C (3,141 °F; 2,000 K)
Solubility in water:100 g/100 ml
Solubility:soluble in alcohol
Magnetic susceptibility (χ):+2490.0•10−6 cm3/mol
Application
Cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate is used in the preparation of allylsilanes from esters. It is used as a reducing agent in organic synthesis in place of sodium borohydride. In Luche reaction, carvone gives selectively allylic alcohol.