4-tert-Butylphenols can be easily transformed into 4-fluorophenols, provided that no coordinating moiety is present in 2-position, in a two step procedure under mild and safe conditions. The first step leads to 4-tert-butyl-4-fluorocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ones through an oxidative fluorination with [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene and triethylamine tris(hydrofluoride), and is followed by an acid catalyzed aromatization with loss of isobutene. When extended to 4-tert-butylacetanilide, this method delivers 4-fluoroacetanilide in a single step but in a modest yield.