Why Xenon Forms Compounds & Bartlett's Discovery

Concept: Neil Bartlett observed that molecular oxygen ($$\text{O}_2$$) reacts with $$\text{PtF}_6$$ to form $$[\text{O}_2]^+[\text{PtF}_6]^-$$. Realizing that Xenon has a first ionization enthalpy ($$\text{1170 kJ mol}^{-1}$$) nearly identical to that of dioxygen ($$\text{1175 kJ mol}^{-1}$$), he reacted Xenon with $$\text{PtF}_6$$ to synthesize the first noble gas compound:

$$\text{Xe} + \text{PtF}_6 \to \text{Xe}^+[\text{PtF}_6]^- \quad \text{(Red Solid)}$$