Electrolytic Partial Fluorination of Organic Compounds. 31.1 Regioselective Anodic Fluorination of 2-Quinolyl and 4-(7-Trifluoromethyl)quinolyl Sulfides and the Factors Affecting Its Optimization

Electrochemical fluorination of 2-quinolyl and 4-(7-trifluoromethyl)quinolyl sulfides bearing an electron-withdrawing group at the position alpha to the sulfur atom was studied. Fluorination was successfully carried out using Et(4)NF.nHF (n = 3, 4) and Et(3)N.3HF as a supporting electrolyte and a fluoride ion source in dimethoxyethane in a divided cell to provide the corresponding alpha-fluorinated sulfides in good yields. A trifluoromethyl group positioned on the quinoline ring significantly enhanced anodic alpha-fluorination. 4-(Methylthio)-7-(trifluoromethyl)quinoline was also found to undergo anodic fluorination efficiently. Solvent effects of various donor numbers were also established.