Recent studies at Durham on direct fluorination

Developments in direct fluorination are described, which changed our percep tion of the viability of this methodology for selective introduction of car bon-fluorine bonds. Use of acids as solvent media is a valuable technique f or electrophilic fluorination, especially with aromatic systems. Fluorinati ons of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds proceed well and techniques for promoting r eactivity in other carbonyl derivatives are described. 'In-situ' formation of other reagents, e.g. by reaction of fluorine with other halogens and wit h water, provides convenient methodology for halogenation and oxidation. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.