a-Fluorophenylacetonitriles (31 are readily prepared by the treatment of the corresponding benzaldehyde cyanohydrin trimethylsilylethers (2) with diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DASTI. This method for the introduction of fluorine alpha to a cyano group iS also applicable to the cyanohydrin trimethylsilylethers of aromatic ketones. Diborane reduction of the a-fluorophenylacetonitriles (3-1 yields 2-fluoro-2-phenethylamines (41. p-Fluoroethylamines have received considerable attention because of the biological activity observed with this class of compounds.l Two synthetic methods have been reported for the preparation of B-fluoroamines. 2~3*4s5 A method called "fluorodehydroxylation" converts B-aminoalcohols to B-fluoroamines on treatment with SF4 and HF in a bomb at low temperatures. Alternatively, aziridines are reported to yield B-fluoroamines by reaction with either HF and an amine3s4 or with liquid HF.4 Recently, a synthesis of methyl a,B-aminofluorodeoxypyranosides was reported5 which utilized a N,N-diallylaziridium cation as an intermediate that waS opened with either Et4N+F-or Et3N'3HF. Only the method of Wade3 has been used to prepare 4a. -However, these procedures do not provide the flexibility, ease or safety needed for a general synthetic method for introducing fluorine into the benzylic position of a precursor to 4. -We wish to describe a new facile synthesis of a-fluorophenylacetonitriles (3) which can readily be converted to the corresponding 2-fluoro-2-phenethylamines (41. These potentially