A traceless perfluoroalkylsulfonyl (PFS) linker for the deoxygenation of phenols

[reaction: see text]. The synthesis of a novel perfluoroalkylsulfonyl (PFS) fluoride is described for use as a traceless linker in solid-phase organic synthesis. Attachment to the resin and subsequent coupling of a phenol affords a stable arylsulfonate that behaves as a support-bound aryl triflate. Palladium-mediated reductive cleavage of a wide variety of phenols generated the parent arenes. The resin-bound aryl triflate was shown to be stable to reductive amination conditions, and the traceless synthesis of Meclizine is reported.