The catalytic HDF reaction is not limited to pyridines. Reaction of other electron-poor aromatics, such as pentafluorobenzonitrile and perfluorotoluene led to rapid formation of 6 and 7 in very good yields (86 and 89% respectively). Simple fluorobenzenes showed similar trends to those seen with the fluoropyridines, with hexafluorobenzene undergoing double HDF to ultimately form tetrafluorobenzene (Scheme 2, 8a). Formation of 8a can be seen after 2 h, with the amount increasing after 18 h, but interestingly only trace amounts of pentafluorobenzene were seen in the F NMR spectra at these time periods. It appears that the rate of HDF of hexa-and pentafluorobenzene is similar and overall significantly slower than perfluorotoluene. This was confirmed by direct HDF of pentafluorobenzene (Scheme 2, 8b), which occurred on a similar timescale to 8a under similar conditions. The ultimate yields of 1,2,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene were very good in both cases (84 and 93% respectively). Perfluorobiphenyl also converted effectively to the doubly hydrodefluorinated product 11, in 87% yield after 24 h at 60 o C. During the course of the reaction the monohydrodefluorinated product was seen (39%) in the F NMR spectra after 1 h with signals at  = -139.5, -152.6, -162.9 ppm, alongside 11 (15%) and unreacted perfluorobiphenyl (42%).