Garcon, MartiMartiGarconBakewell, ClareClareBakewellWhite, Andrew JPAndrew JPWhiteCrimmin, Mark RMark RCrimmin2019-02-192020-01-142019-02-11Chemical Communications, 2019, 55 (12), pp.1805-18081359-7345http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/66723The reaction of a metal complex containing a polar Fe–Mg bond with 2-(pentafluorophenyl)pyridine leads to selective C–F bond activation. A stepwise SNAr mechanism involving attack of the bimetallic nucleophile on the electron-deficient aromatic ring has been identified by DFT calculations. Despite the long and rich history of metal anions in organic synthesis, this is the first time the SNAr mechanism has been elucidated in detail for metal-based nucleophiles.© 2019 The Royal Society of Chemistry.Science & TechnologyPhysical SciencesChemistry, MultidisciplinaryChemistryMETAL-CARBONYL CHEMISTRYC-FBOND ACTIVATIONOXIDATIVE ADDITIONMG-MGANIONSPERFLUOROCARBONSINTERMEDIATEFLUOROARENESJournal Articlehttps://www.dx.doi.org/10.1039/c8cc09701a6773671364-548X