TRIFLUOROMETHYL HYPOBROMITE, CF3OBR

The synthesis and isolation of the hypobromite CF3OBr is reported. CF3 OBr is formed besides Me4N+BrF2- by the reaction of CF3OCl and Me4N+Br 3- via an addition-elimination mechanism. The initially formed solid, [2CF(3)OBr . Me4N+BrF2-], was characterized by C-13 and F-19 NMR, Rama n, IR, and mass spectra. The hypobromite was separated from the solid by high-vacuum condensation onto a cold surface and characterized by m atrix isolation multichannel Raman spectroscopy. An ab initio calculat ion was performed, and a force field and the torsional barrier of CF3O Br were calculated. The calculation predicts an eclipsed conformation with a rotional barrier of 3.4 kcal/mol. The photolytic decomposition of CF3OBr in the solid state and in an argon matrix was investigated.