Metal-free electrochemical fluorodecarboxylation of aryloxyacetic acids to fluoromethyl aryl ethers.

Electrochemical decarboxylation of aryloxyacetic acids followed by fluorination provides easy access to fluoromethyl aryl ethers. This electrochemical fluorodecarboxylation offers a sustainable approach with electric current as traceless oxidant. Using Et3N·5HF as fluoride source and as supporting electrolyte, this simple electrosynthesis affords various fluoromethoxyarenes in yields up to 85%.

Fluorocyclization of N-Propargylamides to Oxazoles by Electrochemically Generated ArIF2.

A sustainable synthesis of 5-fluoromethyl-2-oxazoles by use of electrochemistry has been demonstrated. Hypervalent ArIF2 is generated by direct electrochemical oxidation of iodoarene ArI in Et3N·5HF and mediates the fluorocyclization of N-propargylamides to 5-fluoromethyl-2-oxazoles. The stoichiometry in ArI turned out to be a key parameter in controlling the product selectivity. This electrochemical protocol provides access to fluorinated oxazoles starting from simply available N-propargylamides with yields up to 65% and offers a green alternative over conventional reagent-based approaches.