Tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate

Tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate is a salt with the formula NBu₄PF₆. It is a white powder that is used as an electrolyte in nonaqueous electrochemistry. It is highly soluble in polar organic solvents such as acetone and acetonitrile.

Tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate

Names
IUPAC name Tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate
Other names 1-Butanaminium, N,N,N-tributyl-, hexafluorophosphate(1-)
Identifiers
CAS Number	3109-63-5
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	144722
ECHA InfoCard	100.019.520
PubChem CID	165075
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID0074344
InChI InChI=1S/C16H36N.F6P/c1-5-9-13-17(14-10-6-2,15-11-7-3)16-12-8-4;1-7(2,3,4,5)6/h5-16H2,1-4H3;/q+1;-1 Key: BKBKEFQIOUYLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-N InChI=1/C16H36N.F6P/c1-5-9-13-17(14-10-6-2,15-11-7-3)16-12-8-4;1-7(2,3,4,5)6/h5-16H2,1-4H3;/q+1;-1 Key: BKBKEFQIOUYLBC-UHFFFAOYAC
SMILES CCCC[N+](CCCC)(CCCC)CCCC.F[P-](F)(F)(F)(F)F
Properties
Chemical formula	C16H36F6NP
Molar mass	387.4279
Appearance	white powder
Melting point	244–246 °C (471–475 °F; 517–519 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

The salt consists of a positively charged tetrabutylammonium, a quaternary ammonia cation and a weakly basic hexafluorophosphate anion. These species are chemically inert, which allows the salt to serve as an inert electrolyte over a wide potential range. Given the sensitivity of electrochemical experiments, this salt is usually further purified, e.g., by recrystallization from aqueous or absolute ethanol.[1]

References

1. Zoski, Cynthia G. (2007). Handbook of Electrochemistry (1st ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.