Pd-catalyzed desulfonylative fluorination of electron-deficient (hetero)aryl sulfonyl fluorides

Abstract

A new C(sp²)–F bond forming reaction that eliminates the need for exogenous metal fluoride salts is reported. Pd catalysis is used to convert electron-deficient (hetero)aryl sulfonyl fluorides (ArSO₂F) to the corresponding (hetero)aryl fluorides with extrusion of SO₂. Data science methods are employed to assess substrate requirements and identify a non-intuitive class of phosphine ligands for this transformation.