Sulfur Tetrafluoride (SF4) as a Deoxyfluorination Reagent for Organic Synthesis in Continuous Flow Mode

We report the development of a deoxyfluorination protocol using sulfur tetrafluoride (SF4) as a reagent to prepare organofluorine compounds in continuous flow mode. The method uses mild conditions, without the use of HF, which provides an improved safety profile. The methodology was applied to successfully convert various alcohols, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids to their corresponding fluorinated compounds. Advantages of the protocol include the tolerance of protecting groups, high enantioselective control, and easy incorporation of inline reaction monitoring.