NMR and IR studies of bis((perfluoroalkyl)sulfonyl)imides

The influence of water on the NMR and IR spectra of bis((perfluoroalkyl)sulfonyl)imides has been investigated. The large effects of water on the observed spectra suggest that the proton is predominantly bound to the nitrogen of the perfluorosulfonimide acid in the absence of water, while it protonates water to form an onium salt in the presence of water.