Oxidative C−F Cleavage in Metalloenzymes and Model Compounds

Abstract

AbstractReplacement of C−H by C−F bonds provides lipophilicity and chemical stability to organic molecules. These properties make organofluorides interesting compounds in agrochemistry, medicinal chemistry and also in materials. However, the same properties hamper their chemical degradation, resulting in an increasingly concerning environmental persistence, which is fueling the quest for biological and chemical reagents that could cleave the C−F bonds. The first part of this review makes an overview of oxidative enzymes known to defluorinate organic molecules. The second part reviews coordination complexes, originally designed as functional models of oxidative enzymes, that can also engage in related defluorination reactions. The manuscript is hoped to provide ideas for the development of novel catalytic methodologies.