Microwave-assisted rapid electrophilic fluorination of 1,3-dicarbonyl derivatives with Selectfluor®

A microwave-assisted fluorination method for 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds using Selectfluor® has been developed. 2-Monofluorinated products can be obtained in high yield in neutral reaction conditions with addition of 1 eq. of Selectfluor®. Treatment of 1,3-dicarbonyls with 3 eq. of Selectfluor® in the presence of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) as the base results in the formation of 2,2-difluorinated derivatives only.