New syntheses of xenon hexafluoride (XeF6) and xenon tetrafluoride (XeF4)

High yield methods for preparing high-purity XeF{sub 6} and XeF{sub 4} at relatively low pressures are described. A hot wire reactor was used for the preparation of XeF{sub 6} by the direct reaction of xenon with fluorine at low pressures and high filament temperatures. Xenon tetrafluoride was prepared in quantitative yield and very high purity at low pressure and temperature by the reaction of O{sub 2}F{sub 2} with xenon. The reaction initially converts all the xenon to a mixture of XeF{sub 2} and XeF{sub 4}, and prolonged exposure of this mixture of O{sub 2}F{sub 2} further fluorinates the remaining Xe(II) to Xe(IV).