Title:  Trifluoroacetic Acid 
CAS Registry Number:  76-05-1 
Additional Names:  Perfluoroacetic acid 
Molecular Formula:  C2HF3O2 
Molecular Weight:  114.02 
Percent Composition:  C 21.07%, H 0.88%, F 49.99%, O 28.06% 
Line Formula:  CF3COOH 
Literature References:  Prepn:  F. Swarts, Bull. Sci. Acad. R. Belg. 8, 343 (1922); by oxidation of fluorine olefins:  A. L. Henne, US 2371757 (1945 to du Pont); A. L. Henne et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 67, 918 (1945).  Improved prepn:  A. L. Henne, P. Trott, ibid. 69, 1820 (1947).  Photochemical prepn:  R. N. Hazeldine, F. Nyman, J. Chem. Soc. 1959, 387; eidem, ibid. 420.  Toxicity and metabolism:  M. M. Airaksinen, T. Tammisto, Ann. Med. Exp. Biol. Fenn. 46, 242 (1968).  Review:  J. B. Milne in Chem. Non-Aqueous Solvents vol. 5B, J. J. Lagowski, Ed. (Academic Press, New York, 1978) pp 1-52. 
Properties:  Liquid, sharp biting odor.  bp 72.4°.  mp -15.4°.  d20 1.5351.  Miscible with ether, acetone, ethanol, benzene, CCl4, hexane.  Strong, non-oxidizing acid.  pka 0.3.  LD50 i.v. in mice:  1200 mg/kg (Airaksinen, Tammisto). 
Melting point:  mp -15.4° 
Boiling point:  bp 72.4° 
Density:  d20 1.5351 
Toxicity data:  LD50 i.v. in mice:  1200 mg/kg (Airaksinen, Tammisto) 
Use:  In organic synthesis; dissolves protein when mixed with liquid SO2.   |