F5SN(H)Xe+; a rare example of xenon bonded to sp3-hybridized nitrogen; synthesis and structural characterization of [F5SN(H)Xe][AsF6]

Abstract

The salt [F5SN(H)Xe][AsF6] has been synthesized by the reaction of [F5SNH3][AsF6] with XeF2 in anhydrous HF (aHF) and BrF5 solvents and by solvolysis of [F3S triple bond NXeF][AsF6] in aHF. Both F5SN(H)Xe(+) and F5SNH3(+) have been characterized by (129)Xe, (19)F, and (1)H NMR spectroscopy in aHF (-20 degrees C) and BrF5 (supercooled to -70 degrees C). The yellow [F5SN(H)Xe][AsF6] salt was crystallized from aHF at -20 degrees C and characterized by Raman spectroscopy at -45 degrees C and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at -173 degrees C. The Xe-N bond length (2.069(4) A) of the F5SN(H)Xe(+) cation is among the shortest Xe-N bonds presently known. The cation interacts with the AsF6(-) anion by means of a Xe---F-As bridge in which the Xe---F distance (2.634(3) A) is significantly less than the sum of the Xe and F van der Waals radii (3.63 A) and the AsF6(-) anion is significantly distorted from Oh symmetry. The (19)F and (129)Xe NMR spectra established that the [F5SN(H)Xe][AsF6] ion pair is dissociated in aHF and BrF5 solvents. The F5SN(H)Xe(+) cation decomposes by HF solvolysis to F5SNH3(+) and XeF2, followed by solvolysis of F5SNH3(+) to SF6 and NH4(+). A minor decomposition channel leads to small quantities of F5SNF2. The colorless salt, [F5SNH3][AsF6], was synthesized by the HF solvolysis of F3S triple bond NAsF5 and was crystallized from aHF at -35 degrees C. The salt was characterized by Raman spectroscopy at -160 degrees C, and its unit cell parameters were determined by low-temperature X-ray diffraction. Electronic structure calculations using MP2 and DFT methods were used to calculate the gas-phase geometries, charges, bond orders, and valencies as well as the vibrational frequencies of F 5SNH3(+) and F5SN(H)Xe(+) and to aid in the assignment of their experimental vibrational frequencies. In addition to F5TeN(H)Xe(+), the F5SN(H)Xe(+) cation provides the only other example of xenon bonded to an sp (3)-hybridized nitrogen center that has been synthesized and structurally characterized. These cations represent the strongest Xe-N bonds that are presently known.