Electrochemical C–F bond activation of trifluoromethylarenes using silylium ions

Abstract

We report a mild, electrochemical trihydrodefluorination (e-THDF) for breaking highly stable C–F bonds in trifluoromethyl arenes to form the corresponding methyl arene products. Uniquely, this “green” approach relies on the in situ generation of Lewis acidic silyl cations that mediate fluoride abstraction. Overall, e-THDF has significantly improved functional group tolerance over current methods and should inspire the continued development of defluorinative processes.