Planas O,
Wang F,
Leutzsch M,
Cornella J.
* Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
Fluorination of Arylboronic Esters Enabled by Bismuth Redox Catalysis.
Science 2020;
367: 313-317
Key words
fluorination - bismuth - redox catalysis
Significance
The authors report a bismuth redox-catalyzed fluorination of functionalized arylboronic
esters or acids. The key role is played by the newly designed bismuth complex, which
can change oxidation state and therefore undergo both oxidative addition and reductive
elimination like a transition metal.
Comment
Based on crystallographic characterization of the bismuth species involved, combined
with mechanistic investigations, Cornella and co-workers revealed the presence of
a Bi(III)/Bi(V) redox couple, which has never been observed before. This work demonstrates
the possibility of giving non-d-block elements transition-metal-like behavior by careful tuning of the ligand.
