Electrolytic partial fluorination of organic compounds. Part 48: Anodic fluorination of 2-cyano-1-methylpyrrole

Anodic fluorination of 2-cyano-1-methylpyrrole using Et3N·2HF in an undivided cell provided the corresponding 5-fluoropyrrole and 2,5,5-trifluoro-1-methyl-3-pyrrolin-2-carbonitrile while the use of Et3N·3HF afforded selectively the latter product, which was readily hydrolyzed to isolable 5,5-difluoro-1-methyl-3-pyrroline-2-one. This is the first report of successful anodic fluorination of a pyrrole derivative.