Lorena Capdevila

Albeit the great interest in the synthesis of fluorinated compounds due to their enhanced metabolic stability, lipophilicity and bioavailability,[1] the selective activation of C-F over C-H is of interest in the detoxification of fluorinated compounds present in waste water. Nickel has emerged as one of the metal of choice due to its ability to activate C-F bonds.[2] Here we study the selective activation of C-F versus C-H bonds in fluorinated arene model compounds. The use of directing groups is crucial to achieve site-selective functionalization. Mechanistic insights of the aromatic homologation reaction are also discussed.