Triethylsilyl Perfluoro-Tetraphenylborate Et3Si+F20-BPh4− a widely used Non-Existent Compound

摘要

The commonly used triethylsilyl per-fluoro-tetraphenylborate salt, [Et3Si⁺][F20-BPh4⁻], has been misidentified. As prepared, the cation is a hydride-bridged silane adduct [R3Si-H-SiR3⁺]. Under favorable circumstances it can be an effective source of the triethylsilylium ion Et3Si⁺ but in the absence of a stabilizing base the potent electrophilicity of Et3Si⁺ decomposes the “inert” F20-BPh4⁻ counterion.