Expanding the Balz-Schiemann Reaction: Organotrifluoroborates Serve as Competent Sources of Fluoride Ion for Fluoro-Dediazoniation.

The Balz-Schiemann reaction endures as a method for the preparation of (hetero)aryl fluorides yet is eschewed due to the need for harsh conditions or high temperatures along with the need to isolate potentially explosive diazonium salts. In a departure from these conditions, we show that various organotrifluoroborates (RBF3 - s) may serve as fluoride ion sources for solution-phase fluoro-dediazoniation in organic solvents under mild conditions. This methodology was successfully extended to a one-pot process obviating aryl diazonium salt isolation. Sterically hindered (hetero)anilines are fluorinated under unprecedentedly mild conditions in good-to-excellent yields. Taken together, this work expands the repertoire of RBF3 - s to act as fluorine ion sources in an update to the classic Balz-Schiemann reaction.