Abstract A new, short synthetic route to 2-fluoroestradiol from 19-nortestosterone is described which gives the target compound in an approximately 25% overall yield. Oxidative defluorination of 2-fluoroestradiol to 2-hydroxyestradiol via treatment with Frémy's salt/iodide ion is reported. This process is regarded as biomimetic with respect to cytochrome P-450- dependent oxidative defluorination.