P-Spiro phosphonium salts catalyzed asymmetric fluorination of 3-substituted benzofuran-2(3H)-ones

•An asymmetric electrophilic fluorination of 3-substituted benzofuran-2(3H)-ones is described.•Chiral phosphonium salts were used as phase-transfer catalysts.•The fluorinated products were obtained in up to 96% yield and 56% ee.

Asymmetric electrophilic fluorination of 3-substituted benzofuran-2(3H)-ones was realized under liquid–liquid phase-transfer catalysis with 2 mol% of chiral phosphonium salts to afford the fluorinated products with up to 96% yield and 56% ee.

Graphical abstractBy using chiral phosphonium salts as phase-transfer catalysts, a series of fluorinated benzofuran-2(3H)-ones were obtained with up to 96% yield and 56% ee.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide