Equation 18.27 showed the preparation of [F₃AsAuXe][Sb₂F₁₁] from [F₃AsAu][SbF₆]. Solid [F₃AsAu][SbF6] contains a distorted [SbF₆]⁻ ion; one Sb–F bond is 193 pm, and five are in the range 185–189pm. The Au centre interacts with the F atom of the long Sb–F bond (Au–F = 212pm, compared with 203 pm calculated for the hypothetical [AuF₂]⁻ ion). Suggest why [F₃AsAu][SbF₆] was chosen as the precursor to [F₃AsAuXe]⁺, rather than a route involving reduction of AuF₃ in anhydrous HF/SbF₅ in the presence of Xe.

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in anhydrous HF/SbFs [F3AsAu] [SbF%] +Xe [F3AsAuXe] [Sb₂F₁1] (18.27)