Efficient acid fluoride synthesis via carbonylation of organic halides

Palladium, platinum, cobalt, and rhodium triphenylphosphine complexes were found to catalyze the formation of acid fluorides via carbonylation of organic halides with fluoride salts. For palladium complex-catalyzed reactions, the use of cesium fluoride in polar solvents such as acetone and acetonitrile exhibited superior performance. The reaction took place even under an atmospheric pressure of carbon monoxide. The success of the acid fluoride synthesis is discussed in terms of the facility of oxidative addition of the starting material and the product.