Metal halides have long served as the starting point for many inorganic and organometallic syntheses, but in general only the anhydrous materials are suitable. Direct combination of metal and halogen is a route to the halides, but in many cases hightemperature reactions are required, while in others the initially sluggish process may become difficult to control as the mixture warms up. The dehydration of hydrated salts with solvents such as thionyl ...
