Potassium fluoride used in synthesis of atorvastatin patent?

Potassium fluoride (KF) is commonly used as a fluoride source in synthetic chemistry, so it may appear in some steps of processes related to atorvastatin—or in intermediate transformations used to build the atorvastatin scaffold. However, I can’t confirm that potassium fluoride specifically is used in the original atorvastatin patent without knowing which patent (assignee/patent number) and which example/step you mean.

If you share any of the following, I can look up/identify the exact relevance more precisely:

1. the patent number (e.g., USxxxxxxx / EP / WO) or a link
2. the assignee (e.g., Pfizer/others)
3. the example number or the reaction step you’re referring to
4. the text/paragraph where KF is mentioned (even a screenshot)

In the meantime, here’s the typical chemistry context: KF can be used for fluorination-like substitutions, activation of alcohols/halides, HF generation in situ (with certain reagents), or as a mild base/fluoride promoter to enable conversion of a leaving group or formation of a fluorinated or otherwise fluoride-assisted intermediate. Whether that maps to atorvastatin specifically depends on the route and intermediate.

Reply with the patent identifier (or paste the relevant snippet) and I’ll tell you whether KF is indeed used, where, and for what purpose in that specific patent process.