Silver-Catalyzed Radical Fluorination of Alkylboronates in Aqueous Solution

We report herein an efficient and general method for the deboronofluorination of alkylboronates. Thus, with the catalysis of AgNO3, the reactions of various alkylboronic acids or their pinacol esters with Selectfluor reagent in acidic aqueous solution afforded the corresponding alkyl fluorides under mild conditions. A broad substrate scope and wide functional group compatibility were observed. A radical mechanism is proposed for this site-specific fluorination.