Iodine heptafluoride is an interhalogen compound with the chemical formula IF7. It has an unusual pentagonal bipyramidal structure, with D5h symmetry, as predicted by VSEPR theory. The molecule can undergo a pseudorotational rearrangement called the Bartell mechanism, which is like the Berry mechanism but for a heptacoordinated system. Below 4.5 °C, IF7 forms a snow-white powder of colorless crystals, melting at 5-6 °C. However, this melting is difficult to observe, as the liquid form is thermodynamically unstable at 760 mmHg: instead, the compound begins to sublime at 4.77 °C. The dense vapor has a mouldy, acrid odour.

Preparation

IF7 is prepared by passing F2 through liquid IF5 at 90 °C, then heating the vapours to 270 °C. Alternatively, this compound can be prepared from fluorine and dried palladium or potassium iodide to minimize the formation of IOF5, an impurity arising by hydrolysis. Iodine heptafluoride is also produced as a by-product when dioxygenyl hexafluoroplatinate is used to prepare other platinum(V) compounds such as potassium hexafluoroplatinate(V), using potassium fluoride in iodine pentafluoride solution:

Reactions

Iodine heptafluoride decomposes at 200 °C to fluorine gas and iodine pentafluoride.

Safety considerations

IF7 is highly irritating to both the skin and the mucous membranes. It also is a strong oxidizer and can cause fire on contact with organic material.

Common sources