Regioselective Electrochemical Carboxylation of Polyfluoroarenes

Abstract

Constant current electrolysis of polyfluoroarenes in DMF containing 0.1 mol dm⁻³ Bu₄NBF₄ in the presence of carbon dioxide by using a one-compartment cell equipped with a Pt cathode and a Mg anode at −40°C resulted in reductive cleavage of a C-F bond of the phenyl ring followed by reaction with carbon dioxide in highly regio- and chemoselective manners to give the corresponding mono-carboxylated products, polyfluorobenzoic acids, in moderate to good yields.