title: Triethylsilyl Perfluoro-Tetraphenylborate, [Et(3)Si][F(20)-BPh(4)], a widely used Non-Existent Compound.
abstract: The commonly used triethylsilyl per-fluoro-tetraphenylborate salt, [Et(3)Si(+)][F(20)-BPh(4) (-)], has been misidentified. As prepared, the cation is a hydride-bridged silane adduct [R(3)Si-H-SiR(3) (+)]. Under favorable circumstances it can be an effective source of the triethylsilylium ion Et(3)Si(+) but in the absence of a stabilizing base the potent electrophilicity of Et(3)Si(+) decomposes the "inert" F(20)-BPh(4) (-) counterion.
authors.affiliation: Center for  s  and  p  Block Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nava
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Reed