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Antimony pentafluoride is a noncombustible, oily, colorless liquid with a pungent odor.

colourless oily liquid

HF/SbF5 is an excellent medium for the preparation of alkylidene oxonium salts.1

In the fluorination of organic Compounds, see the monograph Preparation, Properties and Technology of Fluorine and Organic Fluoro Compounds, C. Slesser, S. R. Schram, Eds. (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1951) 868 pp.

A colorless, oily liquid. Fumes irritate the eyes and mucous membranes. Toxic. Corrosive to metals and tissue. Extremely dangerous to tissue; its burns may be followed by gangrene. Only shipped in cylinders. Under prolonged exposure to heat cylinders may violently rupture and rocket. Used to make other chemicals as well as a catalyst in the manufacture of other chemicals.

ANTIMONY PENTAFLUORIDE is strongly acidic. Reacts vigorously with bases. When heated to decomposition, ANTIMONY PENTAFLUORIDE emits highly toxic fumes of fluorides and metallic antimony. Reacts with ammonia to form a diammoniate.

Corrosive to skin and tissue.

The compound is irritating to eyes, skin, and lungs. Contact with eyes or skin causes severe burns. The compound is extremely toxic with a probable oral lethal dose of 5-50 mg/kg or between 7 drops and one teaspoonful for a 150 pound person (antimony salts).

It is used as a catalyst in chemical reactions or as a source of fluorine (fluorinating reagent) in fluorination reactions.

Reacts violently with water, to form poisonous hydrogen fluoride fumes. If confined and wet can cause explosion. May cause fire in contact with combustible material. Hazardous polymerization may not occur.

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. If victim is conscious, administer water or milk. Do not induce vomiting. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. As first aid for pulmonary edema, a doctor or authorized paramedic may consider administering a drug or other inhalation therapy.

UN1732 Antimony pentafluoride, Hazard class: 8; Labels: 8-Corrosive material, 6.1-Poisonous materials.

Water and other forms of moisture releases hydrofluoric acid, combustible organic and siliceous materials, phosphorus, and phosphate materials. Attacks glass, ceramic, lead, and metals, including copper in the presence of moisture. Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides. Antimony pentafluoride, if confined and wet may cause explosion. Antimony pentafluoride appears to have oxidizing properties; may cause fire in contact with combustible or organic materials. May react with metals, including lead, releasing flammable hydrogen gas.

Antimony pentafluoride is a noncombustible,oily, colorless liquid with a pungent odor. Molecularweight= 216.75; Boiling point= 143℃; Melting/Freezingpoint=8.3℃; Specific gravity: 2.340 at 30℃; Liquidsurface tension= 5 (estimate) 0.020 N/m at 20℃; Latentheat of vaporization= (estimate) 1.8 3 105 J/kg; Vaporpressure= 1.33 kPa at 25℃. Hazard Identification (basedon NFPA-704 M Rating System): Health 3, Flammability 0,Reactivity 1. Soluble in water.

Consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Generators of waste containing this contaminant (≥100 kg/mo) must conform with EPA regulations governing storage, transportation, treatment, and waste disposal.

Colorless oily liquid; highly viscous; hygroscopic; freezes at 8.3°C; boils at 149.5°C; density 2.99 g/cm³ at 23°C; soluble in excess water (with violent reaction) and glacial acetic acid; also soluble in potassium fluoride.

ChEBI: Antimony pentafluoride is an antimony molecular entity and an inorganic fluoride salt. It has a role as a Lewis acid.

Antimony pentafluoride is prepared by the reaction of antimony pentachloride with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride:
SbCl₅ +5 HF → SbF₅ +5 HCl
It may also be prepared from antimony trifluoride and fluorine, or by treating antimony pentaoxide with aqueous hydrofluoric acid and evaporing water.

Antimony pentafluoride is prepared by treating antimony pentachloride with excess anhydrous hydrogen fluoride. The antimony pentafluoride is separated from the volatile byproducts by fractional distillation. It can also be prepared by allowing fluorine to react with antimony powder or molten antimony trifluoride. The main use of antimony pentafluoride is as a fluorinating agent.

While 1,3-dehydro-5,7-difluoroadamantane reacts with antimony pentafluoride (SbF5) in super acid media (SO2ClF) to generate the 1,3-dehydroadamant-5,7-diyl dication, 1,3-dehydro-5-fluoroadamantane fails to react analogously to produce the 1,3-dehydroadamant-5-yl cation; instead, the 3,5-difluoro-1-adamantylcation is formed^[1].

Purify it by vacuum distillation, preferably in a quartz apparatus, and store it in quartz or aluminum bottles. It is a hygroscopic viscous liquid which reacts violently with H2O and is hydrolysed by alkalis. It is POISONOUS and attacks the skin. [Woolf & Greenwood J Chem Soc 2200 1950, Kwasnik in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 200 1965.]

reagent type: catalyst
core: antimony

Color Code—Blue: Health Hazard/Poison: Store ina secure poison location. Prior to working with this chemicalyou should be trained on its proper handling and storage.Antimony pentafluoride must be stored to avoid contactwith phosphorus, phosphates, siliceous, and combustible ororganic materials since violent reactions occur. Store intightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area awayfrom water or moisture and heat. Outside or detached storage is preferred.

[1] Bremer, M. (2024). Unexpected reaction of antimony pentafluoride with a fluorinated propellane. Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, 276, Article 110281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfluchem.2024.110281