Molecular Structure
Lanthanide triflates consist of a lanthanide metal ion and three triflate ions. The lanthanides, or rare earth metals, are the elements from lanthanum to lutetium in the periodic table. Triflate is a contraction of trifluoromethanesulfonate; its molecular formula is CF3SO3, and is commonly designated ‘OTf’. Triflic acid is a ‘superacid’ so its conjugate base ions are very stable. Lanthanide triflates are normally nonahydrates, mostly commonly depicted as as Ln(OTf)3·(H2O)9; however, in the solid state and in aqueous solution, the waters are bound to the lanthanide and the triflates are counteranions, so more accurately lanthanide triflate nonahydrate is written as (OTf)3. Anhydrous lanthanide triflates, Ln(OTf)3, are also easily obtained as described below. The metal triflate complex is strongly electrophilic, thus acts as a strong Lewis acid.
Read more about this topic: Lanthanide Trifluoromethanesulfonates
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