An electrochemical approach for the synthesis of perfluoroalkylated purine and indole analogues of plant growth regulators

In an effort to prepare new fluorine-containing molecules as analogues of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs), the indirect electrochemical reduction, by means of an aromatic anion mediator, of perfluoroalkyl halides in the presence of purine and indolyl anions was carried out. The corresponding C-perfluoroalkylated products were obtained by an S(RN)1 mechanism, in moderate to good yields, and biological activity of some of the products was evaluated. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.