The ArF⁺ Cation. Is It Stable Enough To Be Isolated in a Salt?

Ab initio calculations at the MP4(SDTQ)/6-31 lG(2df,2pd)//MP2/6-31G(d,p) level of theory predict that the dissociation energy D_o of ArF⁺ in the ¹Σ⁺ ground state is 49 ± 3 kcal/mol. The stabilization energies of ArF⁺ salt compounds with suitable counteranions are estimated. The best candidates to form stable argon salts appear to be ArF⁺AuF₆^- and ArF⁺SbF₆^-.