- CAS 1493-13-6
- (EC) No. 216-087-5
Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, also known as TFMS, TFSA, HOTf or TfOH, is a sulfonic acid with the chemical formula CF3SO3H. It is generally considered one of the strongest acids and is one of many so-called "super acids." It is used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals and polymers. The anhydrous form is widely used in fine chemical synthesis. It is non-oxidizing, has high thermal stability, and is resistant to oxidation and reduction, making it one of the more useful compounds in the class of superacids.
In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used to make a variety of drugs, including nucleosides, antibiotics, steroids, proteins, and glycosides. Triflate reacts readily with water and is unfavorably toxic.
Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid acts as an acidic catalyst in many reactions in organic synthesis and cationic polymerization – for electronic applications such as liquid crystals and batteries – and as a synthetic intermediate for chemical and pharmaceutical applications .
