CCE - Beckman Lecture

Fluoro chemicals are key for fundamental and applied sciences including applications in medicine, agrochemistry and material science. The starting point of the entire fluorochemical industry is the conversion of acid grade fluorspar into hydrogen fluoride (HF) with sulfuric acid, a reaction first reported in 1771 by Swedish chemist Carl Scheele, and still in use today. The process requires considerable expertise and know-how due to the highly hazardous nature of HF. The supply chain of HF, which is transported either as liquefied gas or in solution as fluorohydric acid, is equally demanding and high maintenance. In this lecture, we will share how our journey in asymmetric catalysis led methodologies that convert fluorspar into critically needed fluorine-containing molecules applying operationally simple and energy- effective methods that bypass the production of hydrogen fluoride.