Trifluoromethyl cation

The structure of the cation.
Names
Systematic IUPAC name Trifluoromethylcarbenium
Identifiers
CAS Number	18851-76-8
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
PubChem CID	12484687
InChI InChI=1S/CF3/c2-1(3)4/q+1 Key: VRLAJHMZTGBAOE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [C+](F)(F)F
Properties
Chemical formula	CF3+
Molar mass	69.0054
Solubility in water	reacts
Structure
Molecular shape	Trigonal planar
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

The trifluoromethyl cation is a molecular cation with a formula of CF⁺
₃. It is a carbocation due to its positively charged carbon atom. It is part of the family of carbenium ions, with three fluorine atoms as substituents in place of its hydrogen atoms.^[1]

Stability

Compared to methenium (the simplest carbenium ion), trifluoromethyl cation is more stable due to the presence of fluorine atoms. The fluorine atoms have lone pairs of electrons overlapping with the carbon atom. These electrons stabilize the positive charge of the central carbon atom, stabilizing the molecule as a whole. The overlap is effective due to the size of fluorine's p orbital in the molecule.^[2]

Synthesis

While electron-donating fluorine lone pairs are present, it does not exist as its own.^{[clarification needed]} The production of a CF⁺
₃ cation has been described as "extremely hard". The first relevant reagent, a diaryl(trifluoromethyl) sulfonium salt (Ar
₂S⁺
CF
₃SbF⁻
₆) was developed in 1984 by reaction of an aryltrifluoromethyl sulfoxide 1 with SF⁺
₃SbF⁻
₆ followed by reaction with an electron-rich arene. Now the reaction of the source of the cation^{[clarification needed]} usually uses 5-(trifluoromethyl)dibenzothiophenium tetrafluoroborate as the reagent.^[3]