Fast, solvent-free and highly enantioselective fluorination of β-keto esters catalyzed by chiral copper complexes in a ball mill

A fast and highly enantioselective fluorination of β-keto esters catalyzed by diphenylamine linked bis(oxazoline)-Cu(OTf)2 complexes under solvent-free conditions has been developed using a planetary ball mill. High yields, high enantioselectivities and shorter reaction times were achieved with low catalyst loading.