2026/03/18 by Andrej Šmalc, Boris Frlec · 1 voice
Chemistry · Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics · #Fluorine in Organic Chemistry #History and advancements in chemistry #Inorganic Fluorides and Related Compounds
paper · doi:10.17344/acsi.2026.9811
openalex publication_date 2026/03/18 · openalex created_date 2026/03/20 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
The article presents a historical personal account of the pioneering development of fluorine chemistry at the Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana. The origins of this research date back to the early 1950s, when the Department of Fuel and UF6 was established. Early work included the development of electrolytic cells for the production of elemental fluorine and the synthesis of fluorine-containing compounds under challenging laboratory conditions. In the early 1960s, the group successfully synthesized XeF4 and XeF6, contributing to the emerging field of noble-gas chemistry. Subsequent research expanded to photochemical fluorination reactions and to the synthesis and characterization of numerous complex fluorides. The article highlights the scientific achievements of the group, the development of specialized experimental equipment, and the role of international collaboration in establishing the Jožef Stefan Institute as an internationally recognized center for fluorine chemistry.