On the mechanism of electrofluorination of organic compounds

After a short review of the current mechanisms, the Authors describe the electrofluorination process of organic compounds in anhydrous HF. Several electrofluorination experiments carried out for some years with a particular attention to their industrial applications are reconsidered in view of the fluorination mechanism. These experiments carried out either with organic acids (butirric, isobutirric, benzensulfonic and toluensulfonic), either with tertiary amines (tripropylamine, tributylamine, N-ethylpiperidine and N-methylmorpholine), bring new support to the mechanism suggesting an initial anodic oxidation of the organic molecule adsorbed on the anode thus forming a radical-cation, which originates the corresponding cation whose stabilisation is effected by addition of a fluoride anion.