Oxford Researchers Develop Potassium Fluoride Method for Alkyl Fluorides
University of Oxford chemists have created a method using potassium fluoride to convert alcohols into alkyl fluorides, achieving yields up to 98%. This advancement addresses the challenges of traditional fluorination methods, eliminating reliance on hazardous reagents and enhancing sustainability in fluorochemical synthesis.

Researchers at the University of Oxford, in collaboration with Pfizer, have developed a method for converting alcohols to alkyl fluorides using potassium fluoride (KF). Their study, published in Science, resolves a challenge in Appel-type fluorination by preventing the formation of the side product PPhF.
The new neopentoxyphosphonium salt enables the production of over 80 fluorinated molecules, including (hetero)cyclic alkyl fluorides, with yields reaching 98%. This method eliminates the need for hazardous hydrogen fluoride and utilizes readily available fluorspar for the fluoride source, enhancing process sustainability. This innovation could significantly impact the fluorochemical industry by promoting a safer, more efficient, and circular economy.




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