Preparation and reactions of 2,3,4,6-tetrafluoropyridine and its derivatives

A reliable route to 2,3,4,6-tetrafluoropyridine has been established starting from the readily available 3,5-dichlorotrifluoropyridine by halogen exchange under controlled conditions to give 3-chlorotetrafluoropyridine and its subsequent hydrodechlorination using hydrogen over palladium on alumina at 250–270°C. The formation and reactions of the 3-lithio derivative have been studied with the aim of obtaining 3,4-disubstituted trifluoropyridines. Routes to such materials have been developed and their conversion to deazapurine derivatives as potential substrates for the generation of anti-sense nucleosides are reported.