Product Information
General Information
Description
Product Introduction
Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA, CAS No. 76-05-1) is a strong fluorinated carboxylic acid widely used in peptide synthesis, protein chemistry, pharmaceutical development, organic synthesis, analytical chemistry, and fluorine chemistry. Owing to its high acidity, volatility, and excellent solubility in both water and organic solvents, TFA has become one of the most important reagents in modern synthetic and analytical laboratories. It is extensively employed as a deprotection reagent, ion-pairing reagent for HPLC, reaction solvent, and catalyst in a broad range of chemical transformations.
Chemical Properties
Chemical Information
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Trifluoroacetic Acid |
| Synonyms | TFA; 2,2,2-Trifluoroacetic Acid; Trifluoroethanoic Acid |
| CAS Number | 76-05-1 |
| Molecular Formula | C₂HF₃O₂ (CF₃COOH) |
| Molecular Weight | 114.02 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless, transparent liquid |
| Boiling Point | Approximately 72 °C |
| Solubility | Miscible with water and most polar organic solvents |
Chemical Characteristics
Trifluoroacetic Acid exhibits several properties that make it indispensable in laboratory research:
- Strong organic acid (pKa ≈ 0.2)
- Highly volatile, facilitating easy removal after reactions
- Excellent solvent compatibility
- Efficient proton donor
- High purity suitable for analytical and synthetic applications
- Compatible with peptide synthesis and biomolecule purification
Key Research Applications
1.Organic Synthesis
Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA) is a versatile reagent widely used in organic synthesis due to its strong acidity and excellent solvent compatibility. It serves as an effective catalyst and reaction medium for a variety of acid-promoted transformations, helping improve reaction efficiency, selectivity, and product yield.
Typical applications include:
- Acid-catalyzed organic transformations
- Protecting group removal
- Cyclization and rearrangement reactions
- Esterification and hydrolysis
- Pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis
2.Peptide Chemistry
TFA is one of the most widely used reagents in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). It efficiently removes acid-labile protecting groups and cleaves peptides from solid supports, enabling the synthesis and purification of complex peptide molecules.
Typical applications include:
- Fmoc peptide synthesis
- Side-chain deprotection
- Peptide resin cleavage
- Peptide purification
- Protein and peptide research
3.Analytical Chemistry
Trifluoroacetic Acid is commonly used as a mobile-phase modifier, solvent additive, and acidifying reagent in chromatographic analysis. It improves chromatographic peak shape, enhances separation efficiency, and supports reliable analysis of biomolecules and small organic compounds.
Typical analytical techniques include:
- Reversed-phase HPLC
- LC-MS method development
- Peptide and protein analysis
- Quality control testing
- Analytical method validation
4.Pharmaceutical Development
TFA is widely employed in pharmaceutical research and process development for the synthesis, purification, and modification of drug candidates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). It also facilitates the preparation of pharmaceutically relevant intermediates and salts.
Typical applications include:
- API synthesis
- Medicinal chemistry
- Process optimization
- Drug intermediate preparation
- Pharmaceutical impurity analysis
5.Environmental Analysis
Due to its strong acidity and chemical stability, Trifluoroacetic Acid is used in environmental and analytical laboratories for sample preparation and chromatographic analysis. It assists in the detection, separation, and quantitative analysis of trace compounds and environmental contaminants.
Typical applications include:
- Environmental sample preparation
- Pollutant analysis
- Water quality testing
- Trace organic compound analysis
- Chromatographic method development
Recommended Experimental Conditions
| Parameter | Recommended Conditions |
|---|---|
| Storage | Store in a tightly sealed container |
| Storage Temperature | Room temperature in a cool, dry place |
| Moisture Protection | Recommended |
| Compatible Solvents | Water, methanol, acetonitrile, dichloromethane |
| Handling | Use in a well-ventilated laboratory or fume hood |
Advantages
- High-purity fluorinated organic acid
- Excellent volatility for easy removal
- Strong acid suitable for efficient deprotection
- Widely accepted HPLC ion-pairing reagent
- Compatible with peptide and protein research
- Versatile reagent for organic synthesis
- Suitable for pharmaceutical and analytical applications
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Trifluoroacetic Acid used for?
Trifluoroacetic Acid is widely used in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), HPLC mobile phases, organic synthesis, pharmaceutical research, and protein analysis.
Why is TFA commonly used in peptide synthesis?
Its strong acidity efficiently removes acid-labile protecting groups and cleaves peptides from solid supports while being easily removed because of its volatility.
Why is TFA added to HPLC mobile phases?
TFA improves chromatographic peak shape, suppresses unwanted ionic interactions, and enhances the separation of peptides and proteins in reversed-phase HPLC.
Can Trifluoroacetic Acid be used in LC-MS analysis?
Yes. TFA is commonly used during HPLC method development; however, because it may suppress ionization efficiency in electrospray ionization (ESI), lower concentrations or alternative additives such as formic acid may be preferred for LC-MS applications.
Is Trifluoroacetic Acid suitable for protein purification?
Yes. It is widely employed in peptide purification, protein characterization, proteomics sample preparation, and amino acid sequencing workflows.
What types of reactions can TFA catalyze?
TFA is commonly used in deprotection, hydrolysis, cyclization, condensation, rearrangement, and other acid-catalyzed organic reactions.
How should Trifluoroacetic Acid be stored?
Store it in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location, away from incompatible chemicals and moisture.
Is this product intended for research use only?
Yes. This product is intended for laboratory research, analytical testing, and industrial R&D applications only.
