Several metals were found to catalyze the conversion of benzotrifluoride to benzoyl fluoride in the presence of carboxylic acids and sulfonic acids, together with the corresponding anhydride, and molecular oxygen. Nb₂O₅ exhibited the highest activity, and a conversion of ∼99.8% and a selectivity of ∼90% were obtained in 10 min under mild conditions. The composition of the acid and anhydride was found to play two roles – as a proton source to activate the C–F bond and as an oxygen transfer agent to form benzoyl fluoride. Oxygen facilitated fluorine transfer but did not enter into the reaction products. A possible mechanism for the conversion of benzotrifluoride to benzoyl fluoride was proposed.

发现几种金属在羧酸和磺酸以及相应的酸酐和分子氧的存在下催化苯并三氟化物向苯甲酰氟的转化。Nb ₂ O ₅表现出最高的活性，在温和的条件下，在10分钟内获得约99.8％的转化率和约90％的选择性。发现酸和酸酐的组成起着两个作用-作为激活C-F键的质子源和作为形成苯甲酰氟的氧转移剂。氧气促进了氟的转移，但没有进入反应产物。提出了将三氟化苯转化为苯甲酰氟的可能机理。