A metal-free method for the direct regioselective fluorination of anilides has been developed. In the presence of bis (tert-butylcarbonyloxy) iodobenzene (PhI (OPiv) 2) and hydrogen fluoride-pyridine, the para-fluorination products of anilides were obtained in moderate to good yields. Because of its operational safety and the use of readily available reagents, this new procedure provides facile access to a variety of para-fluorinated anilides.
