Patent ID: 7737232

Claim:
A method for producing anhydrous rare-earth metal halides (REHal 3 ), comprising reacting a rare-earth metal oxide of the formula RE 2 O 3 , wherein RE is Sc, Y, La, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb or Lu, with a halogenating agent of the formula MHalX 1 X 2 X 3 (1) wherein M is Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr or Hf Hal is Cl, Br, I X1, X2 are X3 are each independently Cl, Br, I, H, or alkoxide (—OR), wherein R is an organic radical having 1-20 C atoms, an alkyl having 1-20 C atoms or an aryl having 6-20 C atoms, wherein the alkyl or aryl radicals can be substituted at least once with F, Cl, Br or I, in an aprotic, polar solvent.