Photocatalytic reduction of fluoroalkyl-substituted alcohols activated by pentafluoropyridine

A new method for deoxygenation of fluoroalkyl-substituted alcohols involves derivatization of the hydroxy group with pentafluoropyridine followed by photoredox catalyzed reduction of the obtained hetaryl ethers using γ-terpinene as a source of hydrogen. The initial alcohols can be easily obtained by nucleophilic fluoroalkylation of the corresponding aldehydes.