The gas‐phase structure of bis(fluorosulfonyl)difluoromethane, (SO 2 F) 2 CF 2

New synthetic pathways and the infrared spectrum of bis(fluorosulfonyl)difluoromethane, (SO 2 F) 2 CF 2 , are reported. The geometric structure and conformational properties of the title compound have been studied by gas electron diffraction. Depending on the rotational position of the two SO 2 F groups, four conformers with different symmetries can occur in this compound: C 2v symmetry, if both SF bonds stagger the CF 2 group. C 2 or C s symmetry, if one SO bond of each group staggers the CF 2 group. The experimental electron diffraction intensities can be fitted equally well with a C 1 conformer or with a mixture of C 2v , C 2 and C s conformers, in a ratio of 3:2:5. The following geometric parameters (r a distances, ∠ α angles with 3σ uncertainties) were derived: CF = 1.340(6) Å, SO = 1.412(2) Å, SF = 1.550(3) Å, CS = 1.848(4) Å, SCS = 113.6(7)°, FCF = 110.0(10)°, OSO = 124.6(18)°, CSF = 96.5(16)° and CSO = 108.4(14)°.