Amidst a large number of acids, trifluoroacetic acid is a popular name. This is normally abbreviated as TFA and is well-known as a strong acid. It is even more acidic than acetic acid. Its chemical compound is denoted as CF3CO2H. The electronegative trifluoromethyl group has a heavy influence on TFA. In a natural environment, it is available only in small quantity. It is obtained in sea water in small concentrations. Some of the alternative names of this acid are Perfluoroacetic acid, Trifluoroethanoic acid and Trifluoracetic acid.
TFA is the predecessor of many fluorinated compounds like trifluoroacetic anhydride as well as 2.2.2-trifluoroethanol. It is soluble in the most organic solvents and has a remarkable acidic strength. It oxidizes less in comparison to sulphuric acid. Its meting point at -15 degree Celsius and boiling point at 72 degree Celsius, make it best for a wide use for a diverse range of products. The properties of TFA are really excellent and suitable for wider usage area.
How Trifluoroacetic Acid is Synthesized?
The process of electrofluorination is essential to synthesis trifluoroacetic acid from acetyl chloride and acetic anhydride. Electrofluorination is also known as Electro-chemical fluorination (ECF). This process is widely used in organic chemistry. A method of hydrolysis is followed soon after this to get the acid. This process can be expressed below.
CH3COCl + 4 HF → CF3COF + 3 H2 + HCl
CF3COF + H2O → CF3COOH + HF
The obtained compound can be dried as per the need by adding trifluoro acetic anhydride (TFAA) in specific quantity. It is possible to synthesis this acid using other means even in a lab environment in the presence of a suitable catalyst.
Usage of Trifluoroacetic Acid
Trifluoroacetic acid enjoys a wide usage all over the world because of its excellent properties. It is used popularly in synthesis of peptides which are basically small chains of amino acids monomers linked by amide bonds. The acid is also used in synthesis of other organic compounds in a successful manner.
TFA with a relatively low concentration is ably useful in liquid chromatography of organic compounds like peptides and small proteins. Since the acid is soluble, it is the preferred solvent for all the materials that exhibit a stable behavior in acid. TFA find use in mass spectrometry as a calibrant.
TFA is used by many manufacturers for packaging exhibiting high performance. Along with fruit juice, this acid is used in packaging of many functional food items. The acid is quite suitable for production of some salts (trifluoroacetate) for a range of industrial use.
Thus, it is easy to understand that trifluoroacetic acid has some great properties because of which it is frequently synthesized in laboratory setting and is used for a variety of purposes.
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