Sulfuryl fluoride

Sulfuryl fluoride is the inorganic compound with the formula SO₂F₂. This easily condensed gas has properties more similar to sulfur hexafluoride than sulfuryl chloride, being resistant to hydrolysis even up to 150 °C. So inert is this material that suspended molten "sodium metal retains its shiny metallic appearance."

Structure and preparation

The molecule is tetrahedral with C_2v symmetry. The S-O distance is 140.5 pm, S-F is 153.0 pm. As predicted by VSEPR, the O-S-O angle is more open than the F-S-F angle, 124° and 97°, respectively.

It is prepared by direct reaction of fluorine with sulfur dioxide:

SO₂ + F₂ → SO₂F₂

A laboratory-scale synthesis begins with the preparation of potassium fluorosulfite:

SO₂ + KF → KSO₂F

This salt is then chlorinated to give sulfuryl chloride fluoride:

KSO₂F + Cl₂ → SO₂ClF + KCl

Further heating (180 °C) of potassium fluorosulfite with the sulfuryl...
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