Trifluoroacetic Acid

Trifluoroacetic Acid

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is an organofluorine compound with the chemical formula CF₃CO₂H. It is a colorless liquid with a sharp odor similar to vinegar, but stronger in acidity. TFA is an analogue of acetic acid with the three hydrogen atoms replaced by three fluorine atoms. The acidity of TFA is approximately 34,000 times stronger than that of acetic acid due to the electronegativity of the trifluoromethyl group. TFA is widely used in organic chemistry for various purposes. TFA is popularly used as a strong acid in peptide synthesis and other organic synthesis to remove the t-butoxycarbonyl protecting group. TFA is used to produce trifluoroacetate salts.