N-FLUOROBIS[(TRIFLUOROMETHYL)SULFONYL]IMIDE - AN EFFICIENT REAGENT FOR THE ALPHA-FLUORINATION OF FUNCTIONALIZED CARBONYL-COMPOUNDS

The N-fluorobis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide (1) has been used in the electrophilic fluorination of the lithium enolate of esters, amides, and ketones. The corresponding alpha-fluorocarbonyl compounds have been obtained in good yields. The alpha-fluorination of beta-diesters, beta-diamides, beta-keto esters, and beta-diketones has been performed either on the neutral compounds or on the metal enolates. In this way some geminal azafluoro, chlorofluoro, fluorooxy compounds have been prepared in nearly quantitative yields. Also some alpha-keto esters and acids have been selectively monofluorinated in the beta-position by simple treatment of the neutral compound with 1.