Recent advances in sulfur tetrafluoride chemistry: syntheses, structures, and applications

Sulfur and fluorine occupy crucial positions in main group chemistry because these two elements form a variety of compounds with versatile bond modalities and unique functionalities. Among sulfur-fluorine compounds, the importance of SF₄ and its derivatives is recognized in the literature. The amphoteric nature of SF₄ results in its rich Lewis acidic and basic reactivities; the reactions with F^- acceptors and donors yield [SF₃]⁺ and [SF₅]^- salts, respectively. Lewis basic molecules can also form adducts with SF₄via various interaction motifs. The deoxofluorinating properties of SF₄ have been used by organic chemists to selectively introduce fluorine atoms in specific substrates, extending also to industrial applications. Although the properties and reactivity of SF₄ have been studied since its first synthesis, the recent progress in the SF₄-related chemistry is striking, involving various fields of chemistry. In this Frontier article, recent advances, mainly the last ten years, in syntheses and structures of SF₄-related compounds including its cationic and anionic derivatives and adducts with Lewis bases are concisely reviewed. Their uses in fundamental and applied inorganic chemistries are also described.