Acyl Hypofluorites. A New Class of Organic Compounds

Acyl hypofluorites, RCOOF, with hydrogen containing alkyl residues have been prepared from the corresponding carboxylic acid salts and F2. For these compounds to have a reasonable stability, at least one electron-withdrawing group has to be attached to the α-position and lengthy chains should be avoided. All hypofluorites have an electrophilic fluorine which can readily react with an electron-rich double bond, as in tetralone enol acetate to give α-fluorotetralone.