Electrosynthetic C–F bond cleavage

Abstract

Fluorinated organic compounds are common among pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and materials. The significant strength of the C–F bond results in chemical inertness that, depending on the context, is beneficial, problematic or simply a formidable synthetic challenge. Electrosynthesis is a rapidly expanding methodology that can enable new reactivity and selectivity for cleavage and formation of chemical bonds. Here, a comprehensive overview of synthetically relevant electrochemically driven protocols for C–F bond activation and functionalization is presented, including photoelectrochemical strategies.