Facile synthesis of R4NF(HFIP)3 complexes from KF and their application to electrochemical fluorination

Abstract

By exploiting the difference in solubility between KF and KBr in the co-solvent HFIP/CH₂Cl₂, R₄NF(HFIP)₃ complexes were synthesised in excellent yields from the ion exchange reaction between KF and R₄NBr. The resulting Bu₄NF(HFIP)₃ was found to have extremely low hygroscopicity and to be effective as a supporting electrolyte and fluorinating reagent in electrochemical fluorination.