Elemental fluorine. Part 1. Synthesis of fluoroaromatic compounds

Abstract

Direct fluorination of 4-fluorobenzoic acid, as a model substrate in a variety of reaction media, shows that 98% formic acid and concentrated sulfuric acid are excellent for promoting electrophilic fluorination. A high degree of fluorination may be achieved using concentrated sulfuric acid, showing that in this medium fluorine will act as a powerful electrophile.