The fluoroformate ion, FCO2−. An ion cyclotron resonance study of the gas phase Lewis acidity of carbon dioxide and related isoelectronic species

Abstract

The gas phase ion molecule reactions of a number of potential fluoride donors with carbon dioxide and carbonyl fluoride have been studied. By determination of preferential directions of fluoride transfer the fluoride affinities of carbon dioxide and carbonyl fluoride have been bracketed and found to be 33 ± 3 kcal/mol and 35 + 3 kcal/mol respectively. In addition, from gas phase acidity studies of acetyl fluoride and 2-fluoropropene the fluoride affinities of ketene and allene have been calculated to be 38 ± 2 kcal/mol and 15 ± 2 kcal/mol respectively. The order of fluoride affinities (Lewis acidities) of carbon dioxide, ketene, and allene have been examined and explained in terms of the electron affinities of the F—C(A)(B) species (A,B=O,CH2) and the C—F bond dissociation energies. These quantities have been estimated and the latter interpreted on the basis of the π bond energies of the three compounds.