Syntheses and X-ray crystal structures of alpha- and beta-[XeO2F][SbF6], [XeO2F][AsF6], [FO2XeFXeO2F][AsF6], and [XeF5][SbF6)].XeOF4 and computational studies of the XeO2F+ and FO2XeFXeO2F+ cations and related species.

Reactions of XeO2F2 with the strong fluoride ion acceptors, AsF5 and SbF5, in anhydrous HF solvent give rise to alpha- and beta-[XeO2F][SbF6], [XeO2F][AsF6], and [FO2XeFXeO2F][AsF6]. The crystal structures of alpha-[XeO2F][SbF6] and [XeO2F][AsF6] consist of trigonal-pyramidal XeO2F+ cations, which are consistent with an AXY2E VSEPR arrangement, and distorted octahedral MF6- (M = As, Sb) anions. The beta-phase of [XeO2F][SbF6] is a tetramer in which the xenon atoms of four XeO2F+ cations and the antimony atoms of four SbF6- anions are positioned at alternate corners of a cube. The FO2XeFXeO2F+ cations of [FO(2)XeFXeO2F][AsF6] are comprised of two XeO2F units that are bridged by a fluorine atom, providing a bent Xe- - -F- - -Xe arrangement. The angle subtended by the bridging fluorine atom, a xenon atom, and the terminal fluorine atom of the XeO2F group is bent toward the valence electron lone-pair domain on xenon, so that each F- - -XeO2F moiety resembles the AX(2)Y(2)E arrangement and geometry of the parent XeO2F2 molecule. Reaction of XeF6 with [H3O][SbF6] in a 1:2 molar ratio in anhydrous HF predominantly yielded [XeF5][SbF6].XeOF4 as well as [XeO2F][Sb2F11]. The crystal structure of the former salt was also determined. The energy-minimized, gas-phase MP2 geometries for the XeO2F+ and FO2XeFXeO2F+ cations are compared with the experimental and calculated geometries of the related species IO2F, TeO2F-, XeO2(OTeF5)+, XeO2F2, and XeO2(OTeF5)2. The bonding in these species has been described by natural bond orbital and electron localization function analyses. The standard enthalpies and Gibbs free energies for reactions leading to XeO2F+ and FO2XeFXeO2F+ salts from MF5 (M = As, Sb) and XeO2F2 were obtained from Born-Haber cycles and are mildly exothermic and positive, respectively. When the reactions are carried out in anhydrous HF at low temperatures, the salts are readily formed and crystallized from the reaction medium. With the exception of [XeO2F][AsF6], the XeO2F+ and FO2XeFXeO2F+ salts are kinetically stable toward dissociation to XeO2F2 and MF5 at room temperature. The salt, [XeO2F][AsF6], readily dissociates to [FO2XeFXeO2F][AsF6] and AsF5 under dynamic vacuum at 0 degree C. The decompositions of XeO2F+ salts to the corresponding XeF+ salts and O2 are exothermic and spontaneous but slow at room temperature.