title: On the catalytic hydrodefluorination of fluoroaromatics using nickel complexes: the true role of the phosphine.
abstract: Homogeneous catalytic hydrodefluorination (HDF) of fluoroaromatics under thermal conditions was achieved using nickel(0) compounds of the type [(dippe)Ni(η(2)-C6F6-nHn)] where n = 0-2, as the catalytic precursors. These complexes were prepared in situ by reacting the compound [(dippe)Ni(μ-H)]2 with the respective fluoroaromatic substrate. HDF seems to occur homogeneously, as tested by mercury drop experiments, producing the hydrodefluorinated products. However, despite previous findings by other groups, we found that these HDF reactions were actually the result of direct reaction of the alkylphosphine with the fluoroaromatic substrate. This metal- and silane-free system is the first reported example of a phosphine being able to hydrodefluorinate on its own.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Circuito Interior, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City 04510, México.
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arévalo
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tlahuext-Aca
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flores-Alamo
authors.forename: Juventino J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: García