Vanadium(V) oxytrifluoride explained

Vanadium(V) oxytrifluoride is a chemical compound with the formula VOF₃. It is one of several vanadium(V) oxyhalides. VOF₃ is a yellowish orange powder that is sensitive to moisture.^[1] Characteristic of early metal fluorides, the structure is polymeric in the solid state. The solid adopts a layered structure but upon evaporation, the species becomes dimeric. In contrast VOCl₃ and VOBr₃ remain tetrahedral in all states, being volatile liquids at room temperature.^[2]

Reactions

In organic synthesis, VOF₃ is used for the oxidative coupling of phenols, for example in the syntheses of vancomycin and its analogues.^[3] For these applications VOF₃ is typically dissolved in trifluoroacetic acid.

Vanadium(V) oxytrifluoride reacts with hexamethyldisiloxane to give vanadium dioxide fluoride:^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Perry, Dale L.. Handbook of Inorganic Compounds. CRC Press. 2011. 978-1-4398-1461-1.
2. Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. "Inorganic Chemistry" Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. .
3. Book: 10.1002/047084289X.rv005. Vanadyl Trifluoride. Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. 2001. Vanasse. Benoit. O'Brien. Michael K.. 0471936235.
4. 10.1039/b811422f . Synthesis, Chemistry and Structures of Complexes of the Dioxovanadium(v) Halides VO₂F and VO₂Cl . 2008 . Davis . Martin F. . Jura . Marek . Leung . Alethea . Levason . William . Littlefield . Benjamin . Reid . Gillian . Webster . Michael . Dalton Transactions . 44 . 6265–6273 . 18985260 .