Catalyst-Free Hydrodefluorination of Perfluoroarenes with NaBH₄

Presented is an economical means of removing fluorine from various highly fluorinated arenes using NaBH4. The procedure was adapted for different classes of perfluoroarenes. A novel isomer of an emerging class of organic dyes based on the carbazole phthalonitrile motif was succinctly synthesized in two steps from tetrafluorophthalonitrile, demonstrating the utility of the hydrodefluorination procedure. Initial exploration of the dye shows it to be photoactive and capable of facilitating contrathermodynamic styrenoid E/Z isomerization.