A selective and mild electrochemical defluorinative carboxylation for late-stage C(sp3)–F bond functionalization

Abstract

We report the first general protocol for the electrochemical defluorinative carboxylation of trifluoromethyl (hetero)arenes, and trifluoromethyl-acetates and -acetamides, for accessing their highly valuable α,α-difluorocarboxylic acid analogues. Given the immense synthetic versatility of carboxylic acids, our new protocol may become a useful tool for accessing novel fluorinated analogues in drug design and agrochemical development.