Catalytic Decarboxylative Fluorination for the Synthesis of Tri- and Difluoromethyl Arenes

Treatment of readily available alpha,alpha-difluoro- and alpha-fluoroarylacetic acids with Selecffluor under Ag(I) catalysis led to decarboxylative fluorination. This operationally simple reaction gave access to tri- and difluoromethylarenes applying a late-stage fluorination strategy. Translation to [F-18]labeling is demonstrated using [F-18]Selectfluor bis(triflate), a reagent affording [F-18]tri- and [F-18]difluoromethylarenes not within reach with [F-18]F-2.