Microwave fluorination: a novel, rapid approach to fluorination with Selectfluor®

Fluorination of electron rich aromatic systems with electrophilic fluorination reagents such as Selectfluor® and Accufluor® is a well-established process. Herein we report results from investigations into the use of such procedures to perform rapid, small-scale fluorinations under microwave irradiation. We have investigated the transformation with a range of different substrates and discuss the effects of two key factors, namely reaction time and choice of fluorination reagent. The use of Selectfluor® in acetonitrile at 150 °C with microwave heating for 10 min affords products in comparable yields to those obtained by prolonged heating in acetonitrile at its reflux temperature.