Visible-light-driven photoreductive complete degradation of sulfur hexafluoride under ambient conditions.

Visible-light irradiation with potassium tert-butoxide in dimethylformamide enables complete defluorination of sulfur hexafluoride under ambient conditions. Electron injection weakens the S-F bonds, producing intermediates that undergo stepwise cleavage. The process ultimately mineralizes SF6 to sulfite and fluoride salts, demonstrating a low-energy strategy for activating extremely inert fluorinated molecules.