Abbreviated as TFA. A precursor to many other fluorinated compounds such as trifluoroacetic anhydride and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol.1 A reagent used in organic synthesis due to its volatility, solubility in organic solvents, and its strength as an acid.2 Popularly used as a strong acid in peptide synthesis and other organic synthesis to remove the t-butoxycarbonyl protecting group.3 An ion pairing agent in HPLC of organic compounds, particularly peptides and small proteins. A versatile solvent for NMR spectroscopy (for materials stable in acid)and a calibrant in mass spectrometry.4 Also used to produce trifluoroacetate salts that serve as precursors to ceramic materials such as YBa2Cu3O{7-x}.5
References
1. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 2005, 349.
2. Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. New York: J. Wiley & Sons, 2004.
3. Int. J. Peptide Protein Res. 1978, 12, 258.
4. Anal. Chem.1989, 61, 2126.
5. Supercond. Sci. Technol. 2003, 16, 45.