PROPERTIES OF FLUOROFORMYL HYPOFLUORITE, FC(O)OF, REVISITED

It is shown that the new compound FC(O)OOF is formed during the synthe sis of FC(O)OF and decomposes rapidly into FC(O)F and O-2. Its instabi lity is responsible for that previously attributed to FC(O)OF reported in the literature. After an improved purification, the properties of FC(O)OF were reinvestigated and for the first time two conformers, cis and trans, were detected by F-19 NMR spectroscopy. From the gas phase F-19 NMR spectra at different temperatures, the barriers of internal. rotation were determined to be 35.0 and 40.4 kJ mol(-1) for cis- and trans-FC(O)OF, respectively. The mechanisms of formation of FC(O)OF an d its precursor FC(O)OOC(O)F were investigated using isotopically enri ched (CO)-O-18 and O-18(2) in the synthesis.