Snapshots of the Hydrolysis of the Lithium Alkoxide [Li{OC(CF3)3}]4

Abstract Exposure of the tetrameric, heterocubane‐like perfluorinated lithium alkoxide [Li{OC(CF 3 ) 3 }] 4 to humid air gaverise to the hydrolysis products [{(CF 3 ) 3 CO}Li(H 2 O) 2 ‐ μ ‐(H 2 O)‐Li(H 2 O) 2 {OC(CF 3 ) 3 }], [{(CF 3 ) 3 CO}Li(H 2 O) 2 ‐ μ ‐(H 2 O)‐Li‐(H 2 O) 3 ] + [OC(CF 3 ) 3 ] – and [Li(H 2 O) 4 ] + [OC(CF 3 ) 3 ] – because of stepwise addition of water molecules in a gas‐solid reaction without solvent. All compounds were studied by X‐ray crystallography and their solid‐state structures are strongly influenced by hydrogen bonding and fluorophilic interactions.