The electrochemical fluorination as a locomotive for the development of fluorine chemistry

The dawning of a field of organic chemistry in Japan is described, which was initiated systematically at GIRIN (later became NIRIN) in 1952. Electrochemical fluorination began with difficulties, but since then has played an important role in the achievement of many research works at GIRIN, has played an important role for the achievement of many research works at GIRIN providing us with starting materials for making fluorine-containing high-performance materials such as fluoropolymers, an artificial blood substitute, liquid crystals, surface-active agents and Halon alternatives, etc.