Aluminium compound deconstructs sulfur hexafluoride in minutes

An image showing sulfur hexafluoride circuit breakers

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Method turns potent greenhouse gas into useful synthetic reagents

Researchers in the UK have developed a fast and mild method for deconstructing SF6. The method converts the potent greenhouse gas into stable aluminium(III) fluoride and sulfide compounds, which can serve as nucleophilic sources of F and S2- in further reactions to make valuable organic products.