Ionic liquids as media for nucleophilic fluorination

The use of Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTILs) for a variety of halogen exchange (Halex) fluorination processes using alkali metal fluorides is assessed. Whilst fluorination of a range of halogenated substrates is possible in good yield, the utility of RTILs as reusable, inert media for such reactions is limited by the gradual decomposition of the RTIL in the presence of highly basic fluoride ion.