The type of functionalization of an aromatic molecule achieved with lo
romethyl-4-fluoro-1,4-diazobicyclo-(2,2,2)octane bis-tetrafluoroborate
, 'F-TEDA-BF4', in trifluoroacetic acid depends on its structure: naph
thalene and phenanthrene gave fluorinated products, anthracene gave th
e trifluoroacetate, while an addition process occurred with 9-methoxy-
phenanthrene in methanol, and an addition-elimination process in trifl
uoroacetic acid.