oxyfluoriders

Oxyfluoriders are reagents, catalysts, or catalytic systems described in some chemical literature as capable of delivering both an oxygen-containing functionality and a fluorine atom to an organic substrate. The term is not universally standardized; some authors use it to denote dual-functionalization strategies that couple oxyfunctionalization and fluorination in a single operation or in closely linked steps. This concept is relevant to fields such as medicinal chemistry and materials science, where the presence of fluorine and oxygen functionalities can influence reactivity, polarity, metabolic stability, and binding properties.

Conceptually, oxyfluoriders may operate via two general modes: (1) concurrent transfer of oxygen and fluoride to a substrate, often in a metal- or photoredox-catalyzed mechanism; or (2) a one-pot sequence in which an oxygen donor is used together with a fluorinating agent in a designed reaction manifold. Research typically employs transition metals (e.g., copper, palladium, nickel) or organocatalytic/photoredox approaches, and may rely on oxidants or hypervalent reagents to generate reactive oxygen-transfer species alongside fluorine transfer. The precise definitions and classifications vary among groups, which is why “oxyfluoriders” is best understood as a descriptive label rather than a fixed category.

Applications and impact include rapid diversification of complex substrates for drug discovery, enabling late-stage installation of fluorinated oxygenated motifs such as alcohols, ethers, or esters that can modulate pharmacokinetics and binding. In materials science, these strategies can introduce fluorinated oxygen-containing groups that affect solubility, polarity, or thermal properties. Limitations include challenges in regio- and stereoselectivity, substrate scope, safety concerns with reactive fluorinating species, and environmental considerations. Ongoing work seeks to improve selectivity, scope, and scalability.