Revisiting the Balz–Schiemann Reaction of Aryldiazonium Tetrafluoroborate in Different Solvents under Catalyst- and Additive-Free Conditions

The thermal and photochemical Balz-Schiemann reaction in commonly used solvents was revisited under catalyst- and additive-free conditions. The study showed that using low- or non-polar solvents could improve the pyrolysis and photolysis of aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates, enabling effective fluorination at a low temperature or under visible-light irradiation. PhCl and hexane were exemplified as cheap and reliable solvents for both reactions, providing good to excellent yields of aryl fluorides from the corresponding diazonium tetrafluoroborates. The combination of slight heating with visible-light irradiation was beneficial for the transformation of stable aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates. Nevertheless, the electronic and steric nature of aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates still had a pivotal effect on both fluorinations even in these solvents.