NaOF

NaOF, or sodium hypofluorite, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOF. It consists of sodium cations paired with the hypofluorite anion (OF−). As a member of hypofluorites, NaOF is more reactive than typical alkali fluorides and is mainly of interest in inorganic fluorine chemistry rather than large-scale applications.

The compound is usually encountered as a moisture-sensitive solid. The OF− anion behaves as a source of electrophilic fluorine in certain reactions, and NaOF tends to decompose upon heating or hydrolysis. In water, it hydrolyzes to form NaOH and hypofluorous-containing species; on heating it can break down to NaF and other fluorine‑oxygen compounds.

Synthesis methods reported in the literature typically involve oxidation of sodium fluoride under fluorinating conditions or metathesis with fluorinating reagents, carried out under controlled, inert conditions because of the material’s reactivity and instability. Due to its instability and limited availability, NaOF is not produced commercially but is cited in studies of hypofluorite chemistry and as a potential fluorinating reagent for specialized organic transformations.

Safety: NaOF is a strong oxidizer and reacts with moisture, acids, and many organic compounds. Hydrolysis can yield corrosive species such as HF and NaOH, requiring careful handling, suitable containment, and proper waste disposal.

See also: hypofluorites, sodium fluoride, fluorination reagents.