XtalFluor

XtalFluor is a family of electrophilic fluorinating reagents used in organic synthesis to install fluorine into organic molecules. The reagents are designed to deliver a reactive fluorine species under mild conditions, enabling formation of carbon–fluorine bonds in a range of substrates. The product line includes several variants, such as XtalFluor-E and XtalFluor-M, each optimized for different reactivity, selectivity, and practical handling.

In typical use, XtalFluor reagents act as electrophilic fluorine donors in the presence of suitable activators or catalysts, allowing fluorination of activated arenes, alkenes, enolates, and heterocycles under relatively gentle conditions. The reagents are often supplied as stable solids or concentrated solutions and are valued for straightforward handling and storage.

Applications encompass late-stage fluorination of complex, drug-like molecules, synthesis of fluorinated building blocks, and methods development where regioselectivity and chemoselectivity are important. The reagents are chosen for their ability to introduce fluorine with controlled conditions, contributing to the study and production of fluorinated motifs in pharmaceuticals and materials.

Advantages include broad substrate scope, high chemoselectivity, and operational simplicity; limitations can include cost, sensitivity to moisture, and the need for careful purification to remove fluoride byproducts. Substrate scope can vary between variants, and some substrates may require optimization of solvent, temperature, or catalyst.

Safety and handling require use in a well-ventilated hood with appropriate personal protective equipment. XtalFluor reagents are typically reactive oxidants and should be kept dry, away from moisture, and stored according to manufacturer guidelines. See also electrophilic fluorinating reagents, Selectfluor, NFSI, and related hypervalent iodine reagents.