Triflate Catalysts

The use of trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid and its salts as catalysts has grown in importance in recent years. Triflic acid is a very powerful monoprotic acid, while the triflate anion is weakly coordinating and for this reason metal triflates are highly active Lewis acids. The triflate anion offers the following advantages over other common weakly coordinating counter-ions:

Non oxidising - Unlike ClO₄^-, triflate can be reduced only with very strong reducing agents.
Does not release fluoride ions - Unlike PF₆^- and similar ions, triflate looses fluorine only under extreme conditons.

Thus, triflate salts are also very useful for the preparation of metallic complexes. It is our goal to offer the widest range of triflate salts for your research needs, at reasonable prices.