Electrophilic oxygenation of polyfluorobenzenes C6F5X (X = F. Cl. Br. H, CF3, NH3 +, NMe3 +, OH and OCH2CF3) with XeF2 and H2O in HF leads to the formation of polyfluorinated 1,4- cyclohexadienones. Pentafluoroiodobenzene is converted into C6F5IF2 and C6F5IF4, whereas [CeF5N2]+ [NbF6]- is unreactive towards this new type of electrophilic oxygenation.