THE ROOM-TEMPERATURE OXIDATION OF GOLD, RUTHENIUM, OSMIUM, IRIDIUM, PLATINUM, OR PALLADIUM WITH FLUORINE IN ANHYDROUS HYDROGEN-FLUORIDE

Metallic gold, ruthenium, osmium, iridium, platinum, or palladium diss olve in anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride (aHF) made basic with alkal i fluoride, with elemental fluorine at room temperature, to provide so lutions of salts of AuF4-, RuF62-, RuF6-, OsF6-, IrF6-, PtF62-, and Pd F62-. The aHF solvent provides for the synthesis of all alkali salts i ncluding those of Li+, for which unit cells have been derived: LiAuF4, monoclinic, C2, a(o) = 9.687(2), b(o) = 12.656(2), c(o) = 10.025(2) A ngstrom, beta = 92.84(1)degrees, z = 16; LiOsF6, rhombohedral, a(o) = 5.411(1) Angstrom, gamma = 56.31(1)degrees, V = 102.4 Angstrom(3), z = 1; Li(2)MF(6) (M = Ru, Pt, Pd) of tetragonal Li2TiF6 type (z = 2) wit h: M = Ru, a(o) = 4.657(1), c(o) = 9.096(3) Angstrom, V/z = 98.6 Angst rom(3); M = Pt, a(o) = 4.662(3), c(o) = 9.107(4) Angstrom, V/z = 99.0 Angstrom(3); M = Pd, a(o) = 4.632(8), c(o) = 9.022(8) Angstrom, V/z = 96.8 Angstrom(3). Pd with aHF and F-2, acidified with SbF5, gives gree n-blue solutions of Pd2+ (solv) from which turquoise Pd(SbF6)(2) is ob tained. To aHF solutions of the latter, addition of Li2GeF6 gives blue PdGeF6 {a(o) = 5.44(1) Angstrom, gamma = 55.3(1)degrees}, and additio n of alkali fluoride, a lilac precipitate of PdF2. Pd(SbF6)(2) and PdG eF6 are simple paramagnets.