The  anion is less nucleophilic and basic (and therefore more weakly coordinating) than nitrates, halides or even triflates. Thus, when using salts of , one can usually assume that the cation is the reactive agent and this tetrahedral anion is inert.
The anion exhibits reduced nucleophilicity and basicity, rendering it a weaker chelator in comparison to nitrates, halides, or triflates. Consequently, when utilizing salts of this anion, we can typically infer that the cation is the active participant, whereas the tetrahedral anion remains unreactive.