Formation of octachlorostyrene during the synthesis of chromium(iii) chloride

Octachlorostyrene has been recovered from the reaction tube, along with previously reported hexachlorobenzene, during the synthesis of CrCl ₃ from Cr ₂O ₃ and CCl ₄ at high temperature. The region in the reaction tube where the octachlorostyrene was found, namely upstream from the Cr ₂O ₃ held at 890°C, suggests that this molecule is formed at a temperature below 890°C and that it decomposes if raised to that temperature. A low gas flow was used in this experiment, allowing products to diffuse countercurrently.