Recent studies at Durham on direct fluorination

Developments in direct fluorination are described, which changed our perception of the viability of this methodology for selective introduction of carbon–fluorine bonds. Use of acids as solvent media is a valuable technique for electrophilic fluorination, especially with aromatic systems. Fluorinations of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds proceed well and techniques for promoting reactivity in other carbonyl derivatives are described. ‘In-situ’ formation of other reagents, e.g. by reaction of fluorine with other halogens and with water, provides convenient methodology for halogenation and oxidation.