Nucleophilic routes to selectively fluorinated aromatics

Abstract

Selectively fluorinated aromatic compounds are of interest in many sectors. Of the methodologies used for their formation, halogen exchange is the only industrial rival to the diazonium based routes. Although many compounds can be formed by halogen exchange, the formation of meta-fluorinated species by this route is difficult. One possible method for overcoming this is fluorodenitration. Although traditionally plagued by side reactions, recent reports suggest that, with careful control of the reaction conditions, fluorodenitration could well provide a viable industrial alternative for the formation of selectively fluorinated aromatic compounds.