Conceptual problems in noble gas and fluorine chemistry,VI:1 Anomalous reactions of the isoelectronic F2O and Cl2O with lewis acids

The isoelectronic F₂O and Cl₂O are known to react with Lewis acids to produce salts of the unrelated O₂⁺ and ClO₂⁺ ions. We propose a unifying mechanism entailing formation of F₃O₂⁺ and Cl₃O₂⁺ by the simultaneous abstraction of halide ions and attack of a second molecule of the halogen oxide. Logic is presented for nonisostructural arrangements of these ions, F₂O⁺-OF and (ClOClOCl)⁺. Subsequent dehalogenation reactions then produce the observed ions.