NbCl is produced by reduction of niobium(V) chloride with hydrogen, or just by heating.
Salt-free reduction of dimethoxyethane solution of NbCl with 1,4-disilyl-cyclohexadiene in the presence of 3-hexyne produces the coordination complex NbCl(dimethoxyethane)(3-hexyne):
: NbCl  +  CH(SiMe)  +  CEt + dme  →   NbCl(dme)(CEt)  +  CH  +  2 MeSiCl
An impure dimethoxyethane (dme) adduct of niobium trichloride was produced by reduction of a dme solution of niobium pentachloride with tributyltin hydride:
:NbCl  +  2 BuSnH  +  MeOCHCHOMe  →  NbCl(MeOCHCHOMe)  + 2 BuSnCl