Iron(II)-catalyzed benzylic fluorination

Org Lett. 2013 Apr 5;15(7):1722-4. doi: 10.1021/ol400424s. Epub 2013 Mar 25.

Abstract

Direct C-F functionalization of benzylic sp(3) C-H bonds is a synthetic challenge that has yet to be propitiously overcome. A mild, one-pot synthesis of monofluorinated benzylic substrates is reported with commercially available iron(II) acetylacetonate and Selectfluor in good to excellent yields and selectivity. A convenient route to β-fluorinated products of 3-aryl ketones is also highlighted, providing a synthetic equivalent to the difficult to accomplish conjugate addition of fluoride to α,β-unsaturated ketones.