title: Polynitrogen chemistry: preparation and characterization of (N5)2SnF6, N5SnF5, and N5B(CF3)4.
abstract: Metathetical processes were used to convert N5SbF6 into N5[B(CF3)4] and (N5)2SnF6. The latter salt is especially noteworthy because it contains two N5+ ions per anion, thus demonstrating that salts with touching polynitrogen cations can be prepared. This constitutes an important milestone towards our ultimate goal of synthesizing a stable, ionic nitrogen allotrope. The stepwise decomposition of (N5)2SnF6 yielded N5SnF5. Multinuclear NMR spectra show that in HF the SnF5- ion exists as a mixture of Sn2F(10)(2-) and Sn4F(20)(4-) ions. Attempts to isolate FN5 from the thermolysis of (N5)2SnF6 were unsuccessful, yielding only the expected decomposition products, FN3, N2, trans-N2F2, NF3, and N2.
authors.affiliation: ERC, Inc. and Space and Missile Propulsion Division, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/PRSP), Edwards Air Force Base, CA 93524, uSA. william.wilson@edwards.af.mil
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Ashwani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vij
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vij
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernhardt
authors.forename: Karl O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Christe