Formation of argon–boron bonds in the reactions of BFn+/2+ cations with neutral argon

Abstract

Experimental data on the reactions of argon with BFn+ monocations (n=0–3) and BFn2+ dications (n=1, 2) and dications reveal the formation of the new argon species ArBF2+ and ArBF2+. Theoretical calculations on the stability of these ions using density functional theory confirm the formation of the rare-gas compounds, but their formation is only exothermic for the reaction Ar+BF22+→ArBF2++F. According to theory, the corresponding neon compounds all involve endothermic pathways and could hence only be formed via involvement of excited states.