Non-Coordinated Phenolate Anions and Their Application in SF6 Activation

Abstract

The reaction of the strong monophosphazene base with the weakly acidic phenol leads to the formation of a phenol–phenolate anion with a moderately strong hydrogen bond. Application of the more powerful tetraphosphazene base (Schwesinger base) renders the isolation of the corresponding salt with a free phenolate anion possible. This compound represents the first species featuring the free phenolate anion [H5C6-O]−. The deprotonation of phenol derivatives with tetraphosphazene bases represents a great way for the clean preparation of salts featuring free phenolate anions and in addition allows the selective syntheses of hydrogen bonded phenol-phenolate salts. This work presents a phosphazenium phenolate salt with a redox potential of −0.72 V and its capability for the selective activation of the chemically inert greenhouse gas SF6. The performed two-electron reduction of SF6 leads to phosphazenium pentafluorosulfanide ([SF5]−) and fluoride salts.