James Joseph Hart

Industrial scale production of Selectfluor™ fluorination agent: from initial concept to full scale commercial production in a 5 year period

Abstract The Selectfluor™ electrophilic fluorination agent 1 is now produced in multi-ton per year quantities and is one of only a few fluorine-containing fine chemicals that are produced by direct fluorination with F 2 on an industrial scale. From the initial concept of the “ideal fluorination agent” to the present day industrial scale production of Selectfluor™, the route to the successful commercialization included a series of critical steps. A chronological account of the road to commercialization of Selectfluor™, noting the important product development factors, is provided herein.