Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid

Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, also known as triflic acid or TfOH, is a organic chemistry.^[1][2]

Properties

Triflic acid is a exothermic.

With an fluorosulfuric acid, and chlorosulfonic acid. Below is a prototypical sulfonation, which HOTf does not undergo:

C₆H₆ + H₂SO₄ → C₆H₅(SO₃H) + H₂O

Triflic acid fumes in moist air and forms a stable solid monohydrate, CF₃SO₃H*H₂O, melting point 34 °C.

History and syntheses

Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid was first synthesized in 1954 by Haszeldine and Kidd by the following reaction:^[3]

Other ways to synthesize trifluoromethanesulfonic acid including electrochemical fluorination (ECF).^{[citation needed]}

The industrial synthesis involves hydrolysis of CF₃SO₂F, followed by acidification. Triflic acid is purified by triflic anhydride.^[2]

Uses

Triflic acid is useful in protonations because the conjugate base of triflic acid will not react with other reagents.

Salt formation

Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid exothermically reacts with metal hydroxides. Illustrative is the synthesis of Cu(OTf)₂.^{[citation needed]}

CuCO₃ + 2 CF₃SO₃H → Cu(O₃SCF₃)₂ + H₂O + CO₂

Far more interesting to the synthetic chemist is the conversion of chloro complexes to the corresponding triflates. Illustrative is the synthesis of [Co(NH₃)₅OTf]²⁺:

3 CF₃SO₃H + [Co(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ → [Co(NH₃)₅O₃SCF₃](O₃SCF₃)₂ + 3 HCl

This conversion is conducted in neat HOTf at 100 °C, followed by precipitation of the salt by the addition of ether.

Organic reactions

Triflic acid reacts with acyl halides to give mixed anhydrides, which are strong acylating agents, e.g. in Friedel-Crafts reactions.^{[citation needed]}

CH₃C(O)Cl + CF₃SO₃H → CH₃C(O)OSO₂CF₃ + HCl

CH₃C(O)OSO₂CF₃ + C₆H₆ → CH₃C(O)C₆H₅ + CF₃SO₃H

Triflic acid catalyzes the reaction of aromatic compounds with sulfonyl chlorides, probably also via the intermediacy of a mixed anhydride.^{[citation needed]}

This is a very similar reaction to what would be done if one wanted to create polymers using triflic acid in the synthesis. Other Friedel-Crafts type reactions using triflic acid include cracking of alkanes and alkylation of alkenes which are very important to the petroleum industry. These triflic acid derivative catalysts are very effective in isomerizing straight chain or slightly branched hydrocarbons that can increase the octane rating of a particular petroleum based fuel.

Triflic acid reacts exothermically with alcohols to produce ethers and olefins.^{[citation needed]} It can be used as a catalyst for the condensation of alcohols and carboxylic acids.

References

1. ^ Howells, R. D., McCown, J. D. (1977). "Trifluoromethanesulfonic Acid and Derivatives". Chemical Reviews 77: 69 - 92. doi:10.1021/cr60305a005.
2. ^ ^{a b} "Trifluoromethanesulfonic Acid". Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. (2006). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. DOI:10.1002/047084289X.rt246.pub2. 
3. ^ R. N. Haszeldine and J. M. Kidd (1954). "Perfluoroalkyl derivatives of sulphur. Part I. Trifluoromethanesulphonic acid". J. Chem. Soc.: 4228 - 4232. doi:10.1039/JR9540004228.

Further reading

• Dixon, N. E.; Lawrance, G. A.; Lay, P. A.; Sargeson, A. M.; Taube, H. (1990). "Trifluoromethanesulfonates and trifluoromethanesulfonato-O complexes". Inorganic Syntheses 28: 70 - 76. doi:10.1002/9780470132593.ch16.