Tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate

Tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate is a salt with the formula NBu4PF6. It is a white powder that is used as an electrolyte in nonaqueous electrochemistry. It is highly soluble in polar organic solvents such as acetone and acetonitrile.

Tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate
Tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate
Names
IUPAC name
Tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate
Other names
1-Butanaminium, N,N,N-tributyl-, hexafluorophosphate(1-)
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.019.520 Edit this at Wikidata
  • InChI=1S/C16H36N.F6P/c1-5-9-13-17(14-10-6-2,15-11-7-3)16-12-8-4;1-7(2,3,4,5)6/h5-16H2,1-4H3;/q+1;-1
    Key: BKBKEFQIOUYLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • InChI=1/C16H36N.F6P/c1-5-9-13-17(14-10-6-2,15-11-7-3)16-12-8-4;1-7(2,3,4,5)6/h5-16H2,1-4H3;/q+1;-1
    Key: BKBKEFQIOUYLBC-UHFFFAOYAC
  • CCCC[N+](CCCC)(CCCC)CCCC.F[P-](F)(F)(F)(F)F
Properties
C16H36F6NP
Molar mass 387.4279 g·mol−1
Appearance white powder
Melting point 244–246 °C (471–475 °F; 517–519 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

The salt consists of a positively charged tetrabutylammonium, a quaternary ammonia cation and a weakly basic hexafluorophosphate anion. These species are chemically inert, which allows the salt to serve as an inert electrolyte over a wide potential range. Given the sensitivity of electrochemical experiments, this salt is usually further purified, e.g., by recrystallization from aqueous or absolute ethanol.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ Zoski, Cynthia G. (2007). Handbook of Electrochemistry (1st ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.