title: Enabling nucleophilic substitution reactions of activated alkyl fluorides through hydrogen bonding.
abstract: 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···H2O 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.
authors.affiliation: CCVC, PROTEO, Département de chimie, Université Laval, 1045 avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, Canada G1V 0A6.
authors.forename: Pier Alexandre
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Champagne
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pomarole
authors.forename: Marie-Ève
authors.initials: MÈ
authors.lastname: Thérien
authors.forename: Yasmine
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Benhassine
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beaulieu
authors.forename: Claude Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Legault
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Paquin