An Electrochemical Approach to Directed Fluorination

J Org Chem. 2023 Feb 17;88(4):2557-2560. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.2c01886. Epub 2023 Jan 26.

Abstract

Electrosynthesis has made a revival in the field of organic chemistry and, in particular, radical-mediated reactions. Herein, we report a simple directed, electrochemical C-H fluorination method. Employing a dabconium mediator, commercially available Selectfluor, and RVC electrodes, we provide a range of steroid-based substrates with competent regioselective directing groups, including enones, ketones, and hydroxy groups, as well as never reported before lactams, imides, lactones, and esters.