Cu-Catalyzed Fluorination of Diaryliodonium Salts with KF

A mild Cu-catalyzed nucleophilic fluorination of unsymmetrical diaryliodonium salts with KF is described. This protocol preferentially fluorinates the smaller aromatic ligand on Iodine(III). The reaction exhibits a broad substrate scope and proceeds with high chemoselectivity and functional group tolerance. DFT calculations implicate a Cu-I/Cu-III catalytic cycle.