γ-Alumina-supported boron trifluoride: Catalysis, radiotracer studies and computations

The irreversible adsorption of boron trifluoride on calcined γ-alumina and amorphous chromia, in both cases at room temperature, has been studied using [18F]-labelled BF3. Although the resulting γ-alumina surface has some catalytic activity for the room temperature fluorination by anhydrous HF of CH3CCl3 under static conditions, its activity is far lower than that of γ-alumina, which has been fluorinated with SF4, nominally at room temperature. A possible explanation for the observed behaviour is given.