Merck, T6508-500ML, Trifluoroacetic acid

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is an organofluorine compound used as a reagent in organic synthesis for various acid-catalyzed reactions such as ring-opening of epoxides, biomimetic cyclization, Cope rearrangements, and natural product synthesis. TFA′s physicochemical characteristics provide advantages over other acids because of its high volatility, solubility in organic solvents, and acidic strength. When TFA is used as a reagent the product isolation is simple by evaporation due to its very high volatility. Less volatile acids such as sulfuric acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid may require neutralization or an extractive workup.