Novel synthetic methodologies for fluorination and perfluoroalkylation

Nucleophilic routes to selectively fluorinated aromatic compounds starting from cheap and readily available nitroaromatics are reviewed. Me3SiCF3, in conjunction with a fluoride, can be used as either a fluorinating or trifluoromethylating agent, and is capable of both the trifluoromethyldenitration and trifluoromethyldecyanation of an aromatic molecule. Nucleophilic trifluoromethylthiolation can be achieved using thiophosgene and a fluoride.