Hydrodefluorinations by low-valent niobium catalyst

Catalytic hydrodefluorinations of organofluorine compounds by low-valent niobium catalyst were developed. In the presence of niobium(V) chloride (typically, 5 mol%), fluorobenzenes, α,α,α-trifluorotoluenes and (trifluoromethyl)pyridines were hydrodefluorinated with lithium aluminum hydride to give the corresponding benzenes, toluenes and methylpyridines in good yields, respectively.