2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol

2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol is the organic compound with the formula CF₃CH₂OH. Also known as TFE or trifluoroethyl alcohol, this colourless, water-miscible liquid has a smell reminiscent of ethanol. Due to the electronegativity of the trifluoromethyl group, this alcohol exhibits a stronger acidic character compared to ethanol. Thus, TFE form stable complexes also with heterocycles (e.g. THF or pyridine) through hydrogen bonding.

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Synthesis

Trifluoroethanol is produced industrially by hydrogenation or the hydride reduction of derivatives of trifluoroacetic acid, such as the esters or acid chloride.^[1]

TFE can also be prepare by hydrogenolysis of compounds of generic formula CF₃−CHOH−OR (where R is hydrogen or an alkyl group containing from one to eight carbon atoms), in the presence of a palladium containing catalyst deposited on activated charcoal.^{[citation needed]} As a co-catalyst for this conversion tertiary aliphatic amines like triethylamine are commonly employed.

As a solvent

Trifluoroethanol is used as a solvent in organic chemistry ^[2], ^[3]. Oxidations of sulfur compounds using hydrogen peroxide are effectively conducted in TFE.^[4]

In biology TFE is used as a co-solvent in protein folding studies with NMR spectroscopy: this solvent can effectively solubilize both peptides and proteins. Depending upon its concentration, TFE can strongly affect the three-dimensional structure of proteins.

Industrially trifluoroethanol is employed as a solvent for nylon as well as in applications of the pharmaceutical field.

Reactions

Oxidation of trifluoroethanol yields trifluoroacetaldehyde or trifluoroacetic acid. It also serves as a source of the trifluoromethyl group for various chemical reactions (Still-Gennari modification of HWE reaction).

2,2,2-trifluoro-1-vinyloxyethane, an inhaled drug introduced clinically under the tradename Fluromar, features a vinylether of trifluorethanol. This species was prepared by the reaction of trifluoroethanol with acetylene.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Günter Siegemund, Werner Schwertfeger, Andrew Feiring, Bruce Smart, Fred Behr, Herward Vogel, Blaine McKusick “Fluorine Compounds, Organic” Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, John Wiley & Sons, 2007.
2. ^ Review: Bégué, J.-P.; Bonnet-Delpon, D.; Crousse, B. Fluorinated Alcohols: A New Medium for Selective and Clean Reaction. Synthesis, 2004,(1), pp. 18-29.
3. ^ Review: Shuklov, Ivan A. ; Dubrovina, Natalia V.; Börner, Armin Fluorinated Alcohols as Solvents, Cosolvents and Additives in Homogeneous Catalysis , Synthesis, 2007, pp. 2925-2943
4. ^ Kabayadi S. Ravikumar, Venkitasamy Kesavan, Benoit Crousse, Danièle Bonnet-Delpon, and Jean-Pierre Bégué (2003). "Mild and Selective Oxidation of Sulfur Compounds in Trifluorethanol: Diphenyl Disulfide and Methyle Phenyl Sulfoxide". Org. Synth. 80: 184. 

• Halocarbon Fluorochemicals

• United States Patent number 4,647,706 "Process for the synthesis of 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol and 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoroisopropanol"