2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol (TFE)

2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol (TFE)

Trifluoroethanol, CF3CH2OH, was first prepared in 1933. Thiscolorless liquid with an ethanol-like odor has a number of uniqueproperties. The three fluorines give the alcohol a high ionizationconstant and very strong hydrogen bonding capability, which make ita very unusual solvent. The fluorines also make the molecule verystable at high temperatures. These properties have puttrifluoroethanol (TFE) to use in some special applications inaddition to its use in pharmaceutical and agricultural chemicalsyntheses.

In 1960, Halocarbon Life Sciences was the world’s firstcommercial producer of TFE. Today, with our state-of-the-art plantin North Augusta, South Carolina, we continue in the forefrontsupplying this important and interesting compound.