2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol (TFE) is a colorless liquid which is fully miscible with water. Because of the high electronegativity of the fluorine atoms 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol has a stronger acid character than ethanol. Due to this there is a stronger tendency to form hydrogen bridging and this makes possible the production of more stable complexes with heterocycles such as THF and pyridine. By oxidation 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol is converted to trifluoroacetaldehyde or trifluoroacetic acid.
Delivery and handling
2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol is supplied in polyethylene-lined metal drums. Inhalation and skin contact are to be avoided. Trifluoroethanol is inflammable and has a flash point of 33 °C. Furthermore, contact with the eyes is to be avoided at all costs. According to the latest experiments, it must be assumed that 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol is a strong eye irritant which can cause irreparable damage. Below a concentration of 10 ppm no significant harmful effects have been recorded.
Toxiclogical data
IRDS:
skn-rbt 50 mg/24H SEV
28ZPAK -78,72*
eye-rbt 20 mg/24H SEV
28ZPAK -78,72*
TXDS:
orl-rat LDLo: 2000 mg/kg
29ZPAK -78,72*
orl-mus LD50: 366 mg/kg
TXAPA9 15,83,69**
ihl-mus LC50: 1,6 %/10 M
RTECS 81/82
ipr-mus LD50: 195 mg/kg
APTOA6 28,299,70***
ivn-dog LDLo: 400 mg/kg
TXAPA9 15,83,69**
Lit: ** TXAPA9:
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, 111 5th Ave., New York, NY 10003) V.1
*28 ZPAK:
Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku, J. V. Marhold, Institut Pro Vychovu Vedoucicn Pracovniku Chemickeho Prumyclu Praha, Czechoslovakia, 1972
***APTOA6:
Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica. (Munksgaard, 35 Norre Sogade, DK 1370 Copenhagen, K. Denmark) V.1, 1945
2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol (TFE) is a colorless liquid which is fully miscible with water. Because of the high electronegativity of the fluorine atoms 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol has a stronger acid character than ethanol. Due to this there is a stronger tendency to form hydrogen bridging and this makes possible the production of more stable complexes with heterocycles such as THF and pyridine. By oxidation 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol is converted to trifluoroacetaldehyde or trifluoroacetic acid.
