Developments in inorganic fluorine chemistry through noble-gas chemistry

Abstract

The discovery of noble-gas compounds in 1962 quickly led to the isolation of four new simple fluorides, XeF 2, XeF 4, XeF 6 and KrF 2. All are clean fluorinating agents and this was recognized from the beginning [1]. Two have turned out to be particularly useful. Xenon difluoride has been extensively used in organic chemistry [2] and has also been instrumental in the development of new classes of inorganic compounds such as the transition-metal carbonyl fluorides [3] and chalcogenide fluorides [4]. Krypton difluoride has yielded new high oxidation-state fluorides and fluoride ions such as AuF 5 [5] and [BrF 6] + [6]. The value and further potential of noble-gas fluorides, especially XeF 2 and KrF 2, as fluorinating agents will be discussed.