Trifluorosulfite anion, SOF3-

Me4N+SOF3-, the first example of a SOF3- salt, has been prepared from Me4NF and SOF2. The colorless, microcrystalline solid was characterized by its R aman and infrared spectra, and in acetonitrile solution by F-19 NMR, The st ructure of the SOF3- anion is predicted by ab initio calculations to posses s a pseudo trigonal bipyramidal structure with two remarkably long sulfur-f luorine bends in the axial position. One fluorine, the oxygen atom, and a s terically active lone pair of electrons occupy the equatorial plane.