Synthesis and molecular structure of a perfluorinated pyridyl carbanion

The first perfluorinated pyridyl carbanion, sodium nitrobis(perfluoropyridin-4-yl)methanide, to be characterised by X-ray crystallography is reported. [Display omitted] ► Pentafluoropyridine reacts with sodium nitromethanide to give a perfluorinated pyridyl salt. ► First perfluorinated pyridyl carbanion system characterised by X-ray crystallography. ► Most negative charge of the salt is located on the nitro group rather than the pyridine rings. Reaction of pentafluoropyridine with sodium nitromethanide allowed the isolation and characterisation of the first perfluorinated pyridyl carbanion system, sodium nitrobis(perfluoropyridin-4-yl)methanide, by X-ray crystallography.