Oxidative fluorination of S, Se and Te compounds

The synthesis and mechanism of formation of cis- and trans-Ph2SF4 is described. Starting compounds are Ph2S or Ph2SF2 and the oxidizing agent is XeF2 in the presence of Et4NCl. Also described is the synthesis of related chalcogen(IV and VI) fluorides such as t-butylSF3, difluorodibenzothiophene, PhSeF3, Ph2SeF2, PhSF5, p-MeC6H4SF5, PhSeF5, and PhTeF5. The reactions of Ph2S(O)F2 with alcohols and with the H2O–HF-glass system are briefly described.