Noble-Gas Difluoride Complexes of MOF4 (M=Mo,W); Syntheses,Structures and Bonding of NgF2 ⋅ MOF4 and XeF2 ⋅ 2MOF4 (Ng=Kr,Xe)

The NgF₂ ⋅ MOF₄ (Ng=Kr, Xe; M=Mo, W) and XeF₂ ⋅ 2MOF₄ complexes were synthesized in anhydrous HF (aHF) solvent and melts, respectively. Their single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) structures show NgF₂ ⋅ MOF₄ and XeF₂ ⋅ 2MOF₄ have F_t−Ng−F_b- - -M arrangements, in which the NgF₂ ligands coordinate to MOF₄ through Ng−F_b- - -M bridges. The XeF₂ ligands of XeF₂ ⋅ 2MOF₄ also coordinate to F₃OM−F_b’- - -M'OF₄ moieties through Xe−F_b- - -M bridges to form F_t−Xe−F_b- - -M(OF₃)−F_b’- - -M'OF₄, where XeF₂ coordinates trans to the M=O bond and F_b’ coordinates trans to the M’=O bond. The Ng−F_t, Ng−F_b, and M- - -F_b bond lengths of NgF₂ ⋅ nMOF₄ are consistent with MOF₄ and F₃OM−F_b’- - -M'OF₄ fluoride-ion affinity trends: CrOF₄44≈F₃OMo−F_b’- - -Mo'OF₄3OW−F_b’- - -W'OF₄. The [- -(F₄OMo)(μ₃-F)H- - -(μ-F)H- -]_∞ solvate was also synthesized in aHF and characterized by SCXRD. Quantum-chemical calculations show the M- - -F_b bonds of NgF₂ ⋅ MOF₄ and XeF₂ ⋅ 2MOF₄ are predominantly electrostatic, σ-hole type bonds.