Phosphorus trifluoride

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Phosphorus trifluoride
Phosphorus trifluoride Phosphorus trifluoride
General
Systematic name Phosphorus trifluoride
Phosphorus(III) fluoride
Trifluorophosphane
Trifluorophosphorus
Other names Trifluorophosphine
Molecular formula PF3
Molar mass 87.98 g/mol
Appearance colorless gas
CAS number [7783-55-3]
Properties
Density and phase 3.91 g/l, gas
Solubility in water  ? g/100 ml (? °C)
slow hydrolysis
Melting point −151.5 °C (121.7 K)
Boiling point −101.8 °C (171.4 K)
Basicity (pKb)  ?
Structure
Molecular shape pyramidal
Dipole moment 1.03 D
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS
EU classification not listed
NFPA 704
Flash point non-flammable
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties
n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Other anions Phosphorus trichloride
Phosphorus tribromide
Phosphorus triiodide
Other cations Nitrogen trifluoride
Arsenic trifluoride
Related ligands Carbon monoxide
Related compounds Phosphorus pentafluoride
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Phosphorus trifluoride (formula PF3, is a colourless and odourless gas. It is highly toxic and it reacts slowly with water. Its main use is as a ligand in metal complexes. As a ligand it parallels carbon monoxide[1] in metal carbonyls, and indeed its toxicity is due to the fact that it binds with the iron in blood haemoglobin in a similar way to carbon monoxide.

Contents

[edit] Physical properties

Phosphorus trifluoride has a bond angle of 96.3°. Gaseous PF3 has a standard enthalpy of formation of -945 kJ/mol (-226 kcal/ mol). The phosphorus atom has an NMR chemical shift of 97 ppm (downfield of H3PO4).

[edit] Properties

Phosphorus trifluoride hydrolyses especially at high pH, but it is less hydrolytically sensitive than phosphorus trichloride. It does not attack glass except at high temperatures, and anhydrous potassium hydroxide may be used to dry it with little loss. With hot metals, phosphides and fluorides are formed. With Lewis bases such as ammonia addition products (adducts) are formed, and PF3 is oxidised by oxidising agents such as bromine or potassium permanganate.

As a ligand for transition metals, PF3 is a strong π-acceptor.[2] It forms a variety of metal complexes with metals in low oxidation states. PF3 forms several complexes for which the corresponding CO derivatives (see metal carbonyl) are unstable or nonexistent. Thus, Pd(PF3)4 is known, but Pd(CO)4 is not.[3][4][5] Such complexes are usually prepared directly from the related metal carbonyl compound, with loss of CO. However, Nickel metal reacts directly with PF3 at 100 °C under 35 MPa pressure to form Ni(PF3)4, which is analogous to Ni(CO)4. Cr(PF3)6, the analogue of Cr(CO)6, may be prepared from dibenzenechromium:

Cr(C6H6)2 + 6PF3 → Cr(PF3)6 + 2C6H6

[edit] Preparation

Phosphorus trifluoride is usually prepared from phosphorus trichloride via halogen exchange using a fluoride such as hydrogen fluoride, calcium fluoride, arsenic trifluoride or zinc fluoride:[6][7]

2PCl3 + 3ZnF2 → 2PF3 + 3ZnCl2

[edit] Biological activity

Phosphorus trifluoride is similar to carbon monoxide in that it is a gas which strongly binds to iron in haemoglobin, preventing the blood from absorbing oxygen.

[edit] Precautions

PF3 is highly toxic, comparable to phosgene.[8]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ J. Chatt, Nature 165, 637-8 (1950).
  2. ^ N. N. Greenwood, A. Earnshaw, Chemistry of the Elements, 2nd ed., Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, UK, 1997, p 494
  3. ^ D. Nicholls, Complexes and First-Row Transition Elements, Macmillan Press, London, 1973.
  4. ^ Kruck, T.“Trifluorphosphin-Komplexe von Übergangsmetallen” Angewandte Chemie 1967, volume 79, p 27-43. DOI: 10.1002/ange.19670790104
  5. ^ Clark, R. J.; Busch, M. A. “Stereochemical studies of metal carbonylphosphorus trifluoride complexes” Accounts of Chemical Research, 1973, volume 6, pages 246-52.DOI: 10.1021/ar50067a005.
  6. ^ A. A. Williams, in Inorganic Syntheses, Vol. V, 95-7 (1946).
  7. ^ Nouveau traité de chimie minérale : Tome X, Masson, Paris, France, 1956.
  8. ^ Greenwood, 1997
  • Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 71st edition, CRC Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1990.
  • J. March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, 4th ed., p. 723, Wiley, New York, 1992.
  • The Merck Index, 7th edition, Merck & Co, Rahway, New Jersey, USA, 1960.
  • A. D. F. Toy, The Chemistry of Phosphorus, Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK, 1973.

[edit] External links

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