Here we report the controlled defluorination of PTFE powder with a molecular magnesium-based reducing agent under extremely mild conditions (25 °C, 1 atm.). The approach allows the formation of a hydrocarbon-soluble magnesium fluoride coordination compound which is easily separable and recoverable from the modified PTFE. This kinetically stabilised species can be used as a fluoride carrier and is expected to be more reactive than inorganic metal fluorides, MF(s) or MF2(s), which suffer from high lattice enthalpies and high stability. We show that PTFE derived molecular fluoride can be used as a fluorinating agent, establishing proof-of-concept for the direct re-use of the atomic fluorine content of PTFE in synthesis (Figure ).