Enhancing the leaving group ability of alkyl fluorides: I/F exchange reactions mediated by LiI

The carbon–fluorine (C–F) bond is one of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry and generally inert toward nucleophilic substitution reactions. To overcome relative inertness C–F bond, this work focused on ability simple lithium salts (Lewis acid) to activate alkyl fluorides base) leading F/I exchange high yields selectivity for displacement fluoride versus chloride bromide. fluorine iodine was effective both activated neutral as 99%.