Enantioselective electrophilic fluorination of α-aryl-tetralones using a preparation of N-fluoroammonium salts of cinchonine

The enantioselective electrophilic fluorination of α-aryl-tetralones is promoted by cinchonine/selectfluor combinations. This strategy allows a facile synthesis of the corresponding 2-fluoro-2-aryl-1-tetralones with excellent yields (up to >98%) and moderate to good enantioselectivity (up to74%).