Tetrakis{3,5-bis(perfluorohexyl)phenyl}borate: a highly fluorous anion

In search of new possibilities for rendering catalysts soluble in fluorous solvents, the preparation of a sodium derivative of tetrakis{3,5-bis(perfluorohexyl)phenyl}borate, a new and highly fluorous anion, is described. This weakly coordinating anion exhibits substantial affinity for perfluorinated solvents and is therefore expected to make a broad range of cationic transition-metal catalysts compatible with fluorous biphasic recycling techniques.