2,3,4-Trifluorobenzoic Acid appears as a white to off-white crystalline solid at room temperature, with a sharp and distinct melting point. Many in the chemical industry know this material for its three fluorine atoms positioned on the benzene ring, which is not just a technical detail—it changes how the acid behaves compared to benzoic acid itself. The molecular formula runs as C7H3F3O2, showing three fluorines clinging to the benzene backbone, while the carboxylic acid gives it predictable reactivity for most preparative routes. CAS number 1517-73-7 identifies it in databases worldwide; the substance carries HS Code 29163990 for customs applications. Density usually lands around 1.5 g/cm³, so it packs a bit more weight in powder or flakes than some of its hydrocarbon cousins. The compound doesn’t drift toward volatility, keeping safely as a solid. It doesn’t pour out as a liquid, nor does it offer itself as a solution except when dissolved intentionally, typically in polar organic solvents.
At its core, 2,3,4-Trifluorobenzoic Acid sports a benzene ring swapped out with fluorines at positions 2, 3, and 4, then capped by a carboxyl group. Fluorine's electronegativity tweaks both acidity and solubility—people working with this material see slightly higher acidity than non-fluorinated benzoic acids. Powder, small flakes, and sometimes crystalline granules turn up in commercial packaging, but manufacturers rarely supply it as pearls or in bulk liquid form since it's not a material that melts at standard temperatures. Laboratories receive the material as a solid for ease of handling and measurement. Crystal forms show up under controlled cooling, aiding purity assessment and letting chemists check identification by melting point and spectroscopy.
Researchers and formulation chemists reach for 2,3,4-Trifluorobenzoic Acid when a trifluoro substitution brings the right reactivity or stability. Pharmaceutical chemists often tweak fluorine positions on aromatic acids to adjust drug metabolism or target binding; this compound has become a testbed and building block in that pursuit. Other industries find value in its structure-property relationship, with the fluorines acting as shields against biological or chemical breakdown. This makes the acid valuable not just for specialty reagents but for real end-product development, including crop-protection or electronics intermediates. Handling raw materials like this means paying attention to purity, water content, and consistency—teams usually demand high analytical data to guarantee batch-to-batch results for downstream chemistry.
Fluorinated aromatics require respect in the workplace. Dust can irritate airways or skin, especially in a high-throughput environment. Concentrated exposure without ventilation puts workers at risk, while gloves and goggles form the front line of personal protection equipment. Spills call for prompt collection, not flushing with water—solid heaps can turn local environments acidic and persistent. Data sheets outline environmental hazards, reminding handlers about the product’s resistance to degradation. Direct ingestion or prolonged contact should spark medical attention. Hazard features land in the “harmful” and “irritant” categories, not rising to high-level acute toxic, but no day with chemicals deserves complacency. Storage best practice calls for cool, dry, and locked cabinets, separated from incompatible substances such as strong bases or oxidizers. International movement of 2,3,4-Trifluorobenzoic Acid falls under chemical safety oversight, with reporting requirements reflecting the raw material’s specialized use and limited mass-market availability.
Lab technicians who check the material consistently measure molecular weight near 176.1 g/mol. NMR, FT-IR, and mass spectrometry break down the structure, with the strong inductive effect of fluorines showing up clearly in spectra. The acid group’s sharp signal and the unique splitting from fluorine allow straight-forward identification. Water solubility sits at a moderate level; the trifluoro substitution pulls down polarity compared to plain benzoic acid. Crystals show orderly packing and clear melting transition, helping analysts double-check identity and rule out isomers or close relatives. Each lot receives attention on purity—GC or HPLC confirm absence of unwanted side compounds. Most reported batches reach above 98% purity, reflecting manufacturing skill and attention to downstream requirements.
Working with 2,3,4-Trifluorobenzoic Acid offers chemists the rare chance to bring fluorine’s unique electronic and steric influence into reactions without flooding the system with volatility or reactive fumes. The stable solid lets users make reliable solutions, weigh exact masses, and track conversion with high-precision instruments. Having handled similar substances, I notice that fluorinated aromatics help create more robust molecular scaffolds, which matters in markets driven by stability and resistance—crop protection, new materials, and advanced pharmaceuticals all benefit from subtle changes that fluorines deliver. Suppliers meeting stringent specification and regulatory checks support advanced research, pushing for higher quality and lower impurity loads out of real necessity.
Safety remains the first challenge—mitigating dust and ensuring people know what they’re handling. In practice, installing localized ventilation, mandatory glove boxes, and regular air monitoring helps catch exposure early. Sometimes, waste handling and environmental risk require adjustment, with neutralization steps and storage in lined containers to stop leaks and spread. Another hurdle lies in sourcing consistent product: communication with suppliers and batch validation using chromatography heads off surprises. Companies scaling up use of 2,3,4-Trifluorobenzoic Acid gain by focusing on staff education and robust incident response. Digital tracking and training make a difference, raising both retention of safe habits and incident reporting.
| Property | Value/Description |
|---|---|
| Molecular Formula | C7H3F3O2 |
| Molecular Weight | 176.1 g/mol |
| Physical State | White to off-white crystalline solid, powder, flakes |
| HS Code | 29163990 |
| CAS Number | 1517-73-7 |
| Density | ~1.5 g/cm³ |
| Solubility | Moderate in water, soluble in polar organic solvents |
| Hazards | Irritant, harmful if inhaled or ingested, persistent in the environment |
