Nucleophilic substitution versus electron transfer: 2. SN2 at fluorine and electron transfer are competing and different pathways in electrophilic fluorinations

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)79384-1

A comparison between the observed rate constants of electrophilic fluorinations and the calculated rates for electron transfer gives for the first time kinetic proof that nucleophilic attack at fluorine has to occur in order to explain the high reaction rates. The low yields of fluorinated products under conditions where ET becomes important are an indication that SN₂ and ET are competing and different pathways.