tetrafluoroborate

thumb|right|The structure of the tetrafluoroborate anion, Tetrafluoroborate is the anion . This tetrahedral species is isoelectronic with tetrafluoroberyllate (), tetrafluoromethane (CF4), and tetrafluoroammonium () and is valence isoelectronic with many stable and important species including the perchlorate anion, , which is used in similar ways in the laboratory. It arises by the reaction of fluoride salts with the Lewis acid BF3, treatment of tetrafluoroboric acid with base, or by treatment of boric acid with hydrofluoric acid.

==As an anion in inorganic and organic chemistry== The popularization of has led to decreased use of in the laboratory as a weakly coordinating anion. With organic compounds, especially amine derivatives, forms potentially explosive derivatives. Disadvantages to include its slight sensitivity to hydrolysis and decomposition via loss of a fluoride ligand, whereas does not suffer from these problems. Safety considerations, however, overshadow this inconvenience. With a formula weight of 86.8, BF is also conveniently the smallest weakly coordinating anion from the point of view of equivalent weight, often making it the anion of choice for preparing cationic reagents or catalysts for use in synthesis, in the absence of other substantial differences in chemical or physical factors.