Nickel‐Catalyzed Heck‐Type Monofluoroacetation of Styrenes for Facile Synthesis of Allylic Fluorides

An efficient nickel‐catalyzed Heck‐type reaction between styrenes and fluoroalkyl iodine has been developed. This novel transformation has demonstrated a broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions and excellent E ‐stereoselectivity. This efficient synthetic method has been applied to the late‐stage monofluoroacetation of biologically active molecules. Mechanistic investigations indicate that a monofluoroalkyl radical is involved in the catalytic cycle.