Obviously, it really would be $\ce{O=P-O-F}$. Since $\ce{F-O-O-F}$ exists the $\ce{-O-F}$ part is obviously possible and the rest of it doesn't strike me as unreasonable, but whether it can actually hold together is way beyond my knowledge. That $\ce{-O-F}$ says it would be some nasty stuff if it exists at all.
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1$\begingroup$ Almost certainly the proposed structure would be extremely unstable to rearrangement - there would be no O-F bond, and instead all atoms would be directly bound to phosphorus. $\endgroup$– Nicolau Saker NetoCommented Sep 12, 2020 at 5:11
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$\begingroup$ Being a native of Ohio, I was disappointed to learn that HIO2 apparently does not exist. Like POOF, the structure of iodous acid would not be accurately rendered by OHIO, but still ... . $\endgroup$– Oscar LanziCommented Sep 12, 2020 at 12:34
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$\begingroup$ @OscarLanzi in a paper, it is formulated as HOIO and some research is also going on: here and here. $\endgroup$– Nilay GhoshCommented Sep 12, 2020 at 13:06
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$\begingroup$ @NicolauSakerNeto I'm sure it's unstable if it exists at all, it would be quite prone to going poof (or more likely BANG!) $\endgroup$– Loren PechtelCommented Sep 12, 2020 at 18:06
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1 Answer
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There exists related anions called monofluorophosphate ion ($\ce{PO3F^2-}$) and difluorophosphate ion, ($\ce{PO2F2-}$). The hypothetical neutral compound, $\ce{PO2F}$ is called phosphenic fluoride. It is also observed that irradiating potassium difluorophosphate with gamma rays create free radicals $\ce{PO2F^{.−}, PO3F^{.−} and PO2F2^.}$.
Moreover, there also exist a polymer $\ce{(PO2F)_n}$ which is a decomposition product of a white solid of composition $\ce{P7O10F15}$. It was apparently named polymeric phosphorus oxyfluoride species. Its structure has been proposed by Wannagat and Rademachers1:
It is suggested that the parent ions of Group I result from the simple ionization of a linear polymer with the general formula, $\ce{(PO2F)_n}$, where each of the terminal phosphorus atoms of the chain is bonded to two oxygen atoms, one of which is a bridging atom, and to two fluorine atoms.
Conclusion: There is no such compound called POOF, but there certainly is a radical ion and a polymer of exact formula.
Notes and References
- High molecular weight phosphorus oxyfluorides by D.W.Muenow, O.M.Uy, J.L.Margrave, Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, Volume 31, Issue 11, November 1969, Pages 3411-3415, DOI: 10.1016/0022-1902(69)80324-6
- Other decomposition products were $\ce{PF5, POF3}$ and $\ce{P2O3F4}$: Technique of Inorganic Chemistry, Hans Boegh Jonassen, Arnold Weissberger Volume 1 Interscience Publishers, 1963
answered Sep 13, 2020 at 5:24
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$\begingroup$ What am I missing? Why would PO2F be a radical ion and not neutral? $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 13, 2020 at 17:40