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| Identifiers | |
|---|---|
3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChemSpider |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.033.352 |
| UNII | |
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| Properties | |
| SeF4 | |
| Molar mass | 154.954 g/mol |
| Appearance | colourless liquid |
| Density | 2.77 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | −13.2 °C (8.2 °F; 259.9 K) |
| Boiling point | 101 °C (214 °F; 374 K) |
| Hazards | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Related compounds | |
Otheranions | selenium dioxide,selenium(IV) chloride,selenium(IV) bromide |
Othercations | sulfur tetrafluoride,tellurium(IV) fluoride |
Related compounds | selenium difluoride,selenium hexafluoride |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Selenium tetrafluoride (SeF4) is aninorganic compound. It is a colourless liquid that reacts readily with water. It can be used as a fluorinating reagent in organic syntheses (fluorination of alcohols, carboxylic acids or carbonyl compounds) and has advantages over sulfur tetrafluoride in that milder conditions can be employed and it is a liquid rather than a gas.
The first reported synthesis of selenium tetrafluoride was byPaul Lebeau in 1907, who treatedselenium withfluorine:[1]
A synthesis involving more easily handled reagents entails the fluorination ofselenium dioxide withsulfur tetrafluoride:[2]
An intermediate in this reaction is seleninyl fluoride (SeOF2).
Other methods of preparation include fluorinating elemental selenium withchlorine trifluoride:
Selenium in SeF4 has an oxidation state of +4. Its shape in the gaseous phase is similar to that of SF4, having a see-saw shape.VSEPR theory predicts a pseudo-trigonal pyramidal disposition of the five electron pairs around the selenium atom. The axial Se-F bonds are 177 pm with an F-Se-F bond angle of 169.2°. The two other fluorine atoms are attached by shorter bonds (168 pm), with an F-Se-F bond angle of 100.6°. In solution at low concentrations this monomeric structure predominates, but at higher concentrations evidence suggests weak association between SeF4 molecules leading to a distorted octahedral coordination around the selenium atom. In the solid the selenium center also has a distorted octahedral environment.
InHF, SeF4 behaves as a weak base, weaker thansulfur tetrafluoride, SF4 (Kb= 2 X 10−2):
Ionic adducts containing the SeF3+ cation are formed with SbF5, AsF5, NbF5, TaF5, and BF3.[3]Withcaesium fluoride, CsF, the SeF5− anion is formed, which has a square pyramidal structure similar to the isoelectronicchlorine pentafluoride, ClF5 andbromine pentafluoride, BrF5.[4]With 1,1,3,3,5,5-hexamethylpiperidinium fluoride or 1,2-dimethylpropyltrimethylammonium fluoride, the SeF62− anion is formed. This has a distorted octahedral shape which contrasts to the regular octahedral shape of the analogous SeCl62−.[5]
