Electrochemical hydrodefluorination of fluoroaromatic compounds

The BH4-- promoted electrochemical hydrodefluorination of fluoroaromatic compounds was reported. Using platinum as electrodes in an undivided cell, the electrolysis was carried out at constant current at room temperature under air without the need of pretreatment of the solvent. This reaction could proceed smoothly on both nonactivated monofluoroarenes and perfluoroarenes with high yields and good selectivities. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.