Enzymatic defluorination of fluorinated compounds

Fluorine-containing compounds are widely used because they have properties required in textiles and coatings for electronic, automotive, and outdoor products. However, fluorinated compounds do not easily break down in nature, which has resulted in their accumulation in the environment as well as the human body. Recently, the enzymatic defluorination of fluorine-containing compounds has gained increasing attention. Here, we review the enzymatic defluorination reactions of fluorinated compounds. Furthermore, we review the enzyme engineering strategies for cleaving C–F bonds, which have the highest dissociation energy found in organic compounds.