In search of iodine-rich compounds with an octahedral tungsten cluster, we explored the treatment of β-W 6 I 12 , the most stable tungsten iodide cluster compound, with liquid iodine. The most iodine-rich compound obtained from these reactions was W 6 I 22 , whose crystal structure adopts two closely related modifications. The remarkable connectivity of [W 6 I 8 ] 4+ clusters in the structure of W 6 I 22 makes this compound the first example of a soluble binary octahedral tungsten iodide cluster, as demonstrated by dissolution experiments in several solvents. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the thermolysis of triclinic α-W 6 I 22 proceeds via a phase transformation into monoclinic β-W 6 I 22 , followed by the formation of W 6 I 18 and W 6 I 16 with release of iodine. A corresponding ambientpressure study by combined differential thermal analysis and thermal gravimetry revealed the transformation of β-W 6 I 22 into W 6 I 14 and β-W 6 I 12 , which finally decomposes into the elements. On the basis of this simple example, we demonstrate how a complete reaction sequence, including preparation and subsequent phase transformations, can be monitored and analyzed by thermal scanning methods. Moreover, a reaction cycle is reported that relates a whole series of binary tungsten iodides. Syntheses of the new compounds αand β-W 6 I 22 , and W 6 I 14 are reported, and their crystal structures, as determined by X-ray diffraction techniques, are presented.