Enabling Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions of Activated Alkyl Fluorides through Hydrogen Bonding
Résumé
It was discovered that the presence of water as a cosolvent enables the reaction of activated alkyl fluorides for bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions. DFT calculations show that activation proceeds through stabilization of the transition structure by a stronger F···H$_2$O interaction and diminishing C–F bond elongation, and not simple transition state electrostatic stabilization. Overall, the findings put forward a distinct strategy for C–F bond activation through H-bonding.