Synthesis and Characterization of Tetrakis(pentafluoroethyl)aluminate

Abstract

While perfluorinated aryl, aryloxy and alkoxy aluminum species are well-established as weakly coordinating anions (WCAs), corresponding perfluoroalkyl aluminum derivatives are virtually unknown. Reaction of Si(C2F5)3CH3 with Li[AlH4] afforded the tetrakis(pentafluoroethyl)aluminate, [Al(C2F5)4]−. Several salts of the [Al(C2F5)4]− ion were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopic methods, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction studies and elemental analysis.