Fluorinated alkyl groups are important motifs in bioactive compounds, positively influencing pharmacokinetics, potency and conformation. The oxidative difluorination of alkenes represents an important strategy for their preparation, yet current methods are limited in their alkene‐types and tolerance of electron‐rich, readily oxidized functionalities, as well as in their safety and scalability. Herein, we report a method for the difluorination of a number of unactivated alkene‐types that is tolerant of electron‐rich functionality, giving products that are otherwise unattainable. Key to success is the electrochemical generation of a hypervalent iodine mediator using an “ex‐cell” approach, which avoids oxidative substrate decomposition. The more sustainable conditions give good to excellent yields in up to decagram scales.

The 3-substituted chromane core is found in several bioactive natural products. Herein, we describe a route to 3fluorinated chromanes from allylic phenol ethers. Our external oxidant-free approach takes advantage of an electrochemical generation of a hypervalent iodine species, difluoro-λ 3 -tolyl iodane, which mediates the alkene fluoroarylation. High yields and selectivity for this transformation are achieved for electron poor substrates. The redox chemistry has been characterized for the electrochemical generation of the iodane in the presence of fluoride, and insights into the mechanism are given. The transformation has been demonstrated on gram scales, which indicates the potential broader utility of the process.

Fluorinated alkyl groups are important motifs in bioactive compounds, positively influencing pharmacokinetics, potency and conformation. The oxidative difluorination of alkenes represents an important strategy for their preparation, yet current methods are limited in their alkene‐types and tolerance of electron‐rich, readily oxidized functionalities, as well as in their safety and scalability. Herein, we report a method for the difluorination of a number of unactivated alkene‐types that is tolerant of electron‐rich functionality, giving products that are otherwise unattainable. Key to success is the electrochemical generation of a hypervalent iodine mediator using an “ex‐cell” approach, which avoids oxidative substrate decomposition. The more sustainable conditions give good to excellent yields in up to decagram scales.

Electrochemical fluorination reactions of organic compounds frequently employ hydrogen fluoride reagents that are corrosive. The corrosive nature of these reagents necessitates either the construction or purchase of cells that are stable to hydrogen fluoride, which require high-cost materials, machining time and expertise. Herein, we offer an alternative solution using 3D printing, which is an inexpensive and rapid manufacturing technique. We have designed, printed and shared four different cell types in polypropylene and tested them in an electrochemical alkene difluorination reaction in the presence of triethylamine • 3HF and pyridinium poly • (HF).

Fluorinated alkyl groups are important motifs in bioactive compounds, positively influencing pharmacokinetics, potency and F conformation. The oxidative difluorination of alkenes represents an H important strategy for their preparation, yet current methods are limited in their alkene-types and tolerance of electron-rich, readily oxidized functionalities, as well as in their scalability. Herein, we report a method for the difluorination of a number of unactivated alkene-types that is tolerant of electron-rich functionality, giving products that are otherwise unattainable. Key to success is the electrochemical generation of a hypervalent iodine mediator (in the presence of nucleophilic fluoride and HFIP) using an ‘ex-cell’ approach, which avoids the oxidative decomposition of the substrate. The more sustainable conditions give good to excellent yields of product in up to decagram scales<br>