Trifluoromethanesulfonyl hypofluorite, a hitherto unknown fluoroxy compound

Trifluoromethanesulfonyl hypofluorite (CF[sub 3]SO[sub 2]OF) has been synthesized by the reaction of fluorosulfuryl hypofluorite (FSO[sub 2]OF) with cesium trifluoromethanesulfonate. It is the first compound in which a sulfur atom is bonded both to carbon and to an O-F moiety. The compound has a melting point of -87 [plus minus] 2[degrees]C and an extrapolated boiling point of 0 [plus minus] 1[degrees]C. The [sup 19]F NMR spectrum of the compound in CFCl[sub 3] at -80[degrees]C shows a CF[sub 3] doublet at -71 ppm and a broad OF singlet at +238 ppm. From the latter can be deduced an O-F bond energy of about 145 kJ/mol, comparable to that of FSO[sub 2]OF. The compound hydrolyses in base to give a mixture of O[sub 2] and CF[sub 4], along with (presumably) sulfate and trifluoromethanesulfonate. It decomposes thermally in the presence of CsF to yield principally CF[sub 3]SO[sub 2]F and OF[sub 2] along with (presumably) cesium trifluoromethanesulfonate. 14 refs., 1 tab.