Photocatalytic Hydrodefluorination: Facile Access to Partially Fluorinated Aromatics

Polyfluorinated
aromatics are essential to materials science as
well as the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries and yet are
often difficult to access. This Communication describes a photocatalytic
hydrodefluorination approach which begins with easily accessible perfluoroarenes
and selectively reduces the C–F bonds. The method allows facile
access to a number of partially fluorinated arenes and takes place
with unprecedented catalytic activity using a safe and inexpensive
amine as the reductant.