Mechanochemical oxidation of fluorinated anilines to symmetric azobenzenes

A solventless mechanochemical methodology for the oxidation of electron-poor fluorinated anilines to the corresponding symmetrical azo compounds has been developed. In this process phenyliodine(III)diacetate and inexpensive calcium hypochlorite demonstrate to be good oxidants, providing the desired fluorinated azobenzenes in satisfactory yields, within short reaction times and avoiding the use of environmental unfriendly metal reagents.