Information About

Triflate




Triflate, more formally known as '''trifluoromethanesulfonate''', has the molecular formula CF3SO3-. It is an extremely stable Polyatomic Ion , being the Conjugate Base of '''triflic acid''' (CF3SO3H), one of the strongest Acid s known and a Super Acid .

A triflate is an excellent Leaving Group used in certain Organic Reactions such as Nucleophilic Substitution , Suzuki Coupling s and Heck Reaction s. For example, in an alkyl triflate such as ''n''- Butyl triflate, (CH3CH2CH2OTf), the "OTf" is used to designate the triflate leaving group. Since alkyl triflates are extremely reactive in SN2 Reactions , they must be stored in conditions free of Nucleophile s (such as Water ).

Tf represents the trifyl group, CF3SO2-.

A mild triflating reagent is '''phenyl triflimide''' or N,N-Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)aniline.

See Trifluoromethanesulfonic Acid