Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid

Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (CAS 1493-13-6), commercially known as triflic acid or TfOH, is one of the strongest known Brønsted acids and a highly reactive proton donor.

Its primary industrial role is as a superacid catalyst and reagent in demanding synthetic and manufacturing processes where conventional acids lack sufficient reactivity.

In pharmaceutical synthesis, TfOH drives acid-catalyzed cyclizations, glycosylations, and Friedel-Crafts-type reactions where milder acids fail to achieve acceptable yields or selectivity.

Polymer manufacturers use it to initiate cationic polymerization and produce high-performance specialty polymers, including certain polybenzimidazoles and polyarylenes used in membrane applications.

In textile and paper processing, it functions as a catalyst for surface treatment and finishing chemistries requiring precise pH control under aggressive conditions.

Triflate salts derived from TfOH also serve as precursors to ionic liquid systems and metal triflate Lewis acid catalysts used across fine chemical