Photochemical activation of SF6 by N-heterocyclic carbenes to provide a deoxyfluorinating reagent.

The activation of the greenhouse gas SF6 using electron-rich N-heterocyclic carbenes gave 2,2-difluoroimidazolines or 2,2-difluoroimidazolidines as well as 2-thio derivatives of the carbene precursors. The N-heterocyclic carbenes can also convert SF4 to give similar products. The difluoroimidazolidine derivatives were applied in deoxyfluorination reactions. Furthermore, the activation of SF6 and the fluorination can be coupled in a one-pot process to convert 1-octanol into 1-fluorooctane.