Synthesis, crystal and molecular structure of alkali metal nonaflates

Abstract

A solution of potassium nonaflate (n-C₄F₉SO₃K = NfOK) in boiling acetonitrile forms, on subsequent cooling, a stable crystalline 1 : 1 supramolecular complex. The structures of NfOK and NfOK·CH₃CN were elucidated by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. Lithium and sodium nonaflate were crystallized as a dioxane solvate and hydrate, respectively, whereas the rubidium and caesium salts crystallize without intercalated solvent molecules. All of the compounds crystallize as layer structures with a perfect segregation of the ionic parts from the fluorous tails.