Anodic oxidation of p-disubstituted benzenes in the presence of fluoride ion

Electrochemical oxidation of aromatic compounds in the presence of fluoride ion gives products derived from initial oxidation of aromatic substrate and subsequent reaction with fluoride ion. The second of the one-electron transfer steps leads to benzenium ions, which give either fluoroaromatic compounds (elimination) or fluorocyclohexadienes (addition). The elimination of a t-butyl-group during anodic oxidation of p-di-t-butylbenzene yielded p-fluoro-t-butylbenzene. Further examples of the reaction involve p-fluorodiphenyl, p-fluoro-t-butylbenzene, and p-fluorophenol ethers.