The thermal cleavage of boron tris-trifluoromethane-sulfonate(triflate) and boron tris-pentafluoroethane-sulfonate(pentflate) to triflic (pentflic) anhydride and trifluoromethyl triflate (pentafluoroethyl pentflate)

Abstract

Cleavage of boron tris-trifluoromethanesulfonate(triflate) and boron tris-pentafluoroethanesulfonate(pentflate) was studied at 200°C. Complete cleavage giving boron trifluoride, sulfur dioxide, carbonyl fluoride (trifluoroacetyl fluoride), triflic (pentflic) anhydride, triflic (pentflic) triflate (pentflate) and boric acid was observed. A mechanism for the cleavage based on formation of the identified compounds is suggested.