Asymmetric Phase-Transfer Fluorination and Trifluoromethylation Reactions

Asymmetric Phase-Transfer Fluorination and Trifluoromethylation Reactions 

The introduction of a fluorinated moiety into organic molecules can result in profound changes of the physicochemical and biological properties of these molecules. 

One of the most fascinating aspects of organofluorine chemistry is the asymmetric synthesis of fluorinated molecules [137]. Accordingly, there has been continuing interest in the development of PTC methods for the asymmetric electrophilic fluorination of p-ketoesters [52, 138] and nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of imines [45]. 

It is noteworthy that Toste and coworkers described the new concept of an anionic phase-transfer catalyst, whereby a chiral phosphate catalyst was used in the asymmetric fluorination reactions. They used selectfluor as a versatile cationic fluorinating agent, which would normally be insoluble in nonpolar organic solvents. 

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