Trihexyl (tetradecyl) phosphonium tetrafluoroborate was found to be an active catalyst for the introduction of fluoride by nucleophilic aromatic substitution. With a decomposition temperature above 300° C, this ionic liquid is suitable for reactions at high temperatures. The addition of 1mol% of the ionic liquid relative to KF increased the initial rate for the fluorination of 1, 2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene six-fold compared to the uncatalysed reaction. ...
