Protected prostacyclin derivatives were reacted with perchloryl fluoride in methanol. The resultant 5-fluoro-6-methoxy derivatives were separated and identified. Pyrolysis of the individual isomers in the presence of magnesium triflate led to 5 (R)-or 5 (S)-fluoro-A6-PGI, derivatives. The 5R isomers also produced some S (E)-fluoro-PGI, while the 5 s isomers produced a lesser amount of 5 (Z)-fluoro-PG12. A mechanism is proposed to explain this ...