[4] This species is a rare example of a metal oxide coordinated to water; most often metal–oxo–aquo species are unstable with respect to their corresponding hydroxides: The two rhenium atoms have different bonding geometries, with one being tetrahedral and the other octahedral, and with the water ligands coordinated to the latter.

[6] Perrhenic acid combined with platinum on a support gives rise to a useful hydrogenation and hydrocracking catalyst for the petroleum industry.

[citation needed] This catalyst is used in the dehydrogenation of alcohols and also promotes the decomposition of ammonia.

Perrhenic acid is a precursor to a variety of homogeneous catalysts, some of which are promising in niche applications that can justify the high cost of rhenium.

In combination with tertiary arsines, perrhenic acid gives a catalyst for the epoxidation of alkenes with hydrogen peroxide.