3,4,5-Trifluorophenylboronic acid is a compound rooted in the versatile world of boronic acids, widely put to work in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and even material science labs. The name itself reveals its hand—the molecule comes from a phenyl ring decorated at the 3, 4, and 5 positions with three fluorine atoms, paired with a boronic acid group. This specific arrangement leads to unique behavior in chemical reactions, especially Suzuki coupling reactions that produce biaryl rings vital for pharmaceuticals and industry.
At the core of this compound sits a benzene ring, with fluorine atoms occupying positions three, four, and five, disrupting the regular symmetry and tuning both electronic and physical properties. The boronic acid group (-B(OH)2) attaches directly to the ring, giving the molecule new reactivity. Its molecular formula reads as C6H2B F3O2, and the molecular weight measures close to 191.89 grams per mole. In practice, seeing the chemical structure printed on paper, you notice the three fluorines lined up, shifting the molecule’s electronic density, which can strengthen certain bonds and suppress side reactions in organic synthesis.
3,4,5-Trifluorophenylboronic acid usually comes as an off-white or pale yellow solid. Sometimes the flakes pile together in small jars, sometimes you find it as a fine powder, depending on how it’s manufactured or handled. Occasionally, crystalline forms appear if slow evaporation or special cooling steps encourage molecules to align just so. Density tips the scales at about 1.53 g/cm3, providing a physical heft you won’t find in lighter or less substituted versions. The melting point often falls between 190 and 196 degrees Celsius—easy enough to measure with a classic melting point apparatus in the lab. It rarely shows up as a liquid at room temperature. As a solid, it resists easy dissolution in plain water, but shows good solubility in organic solvents like DMSO, ethanol, or acetone, a trait prized during reaction work-ups and purification steps.
Chemistry isn’t only about reactions; it’s about reliable raw materials. Labs and industrial sites order 3,4,5-Trifluorophenylboronic acid to strict specs, often requiring chemical purity above 97% and low levels of water or trace impurities, since these can make or break results. Flakes and powders fill amber glass bottles, lined with plastic or foil pouches to reduce moisture uptake, and flagged with necessary hazard labels. Quantities range from tiny 1-gram vials up to kilogram drums for manufacturing plants. Each label lists a unique HS Code for customs reporting—starting with 2931, flagging boronic acids and related compounds for global shippers and regulators.
Experience with 3,4,5-Trifluorophenylboronic acid in any lab means paying close attention to safety. Inhalation, skin, or eye contact can cause irritation, so gloves, goggles, and lab coats are the standard. MSDS sheets warn it may cause respiratory or skin sensitization in some users, though daily risks remain relatively low with competent handling. It doesn’t ignite easily and offers fairly low volatility, but dust from rough handling can cause breathlessness or discomfort. Spills clean up well with standard practice—use absorbent pads and ventilate. It stores best in a cool, dry place, away from acids, oxidizers, or sources of ignition, and always behind labelled barriers to prevent mix-ups or cross-contamination.
In organic chemistry circles, 3,4,5-Trifluorophenylboronic acid has carved out a spot as an essential building block—especially for creating complex pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and custom polymers. The trifluorinated ring resists metabolic breakdown, so drug makers chase it for stability in the body. Materials scientists reach for it to add chemical resistance to specialty plastics or coatings. Every bottle traced through the supply chain speaks to a wider network—researchers in academic departments, process chemists scaling up batches, analysts back-checking for purity before signing off for release.
Material consistency underpins the work at every scale. Density checks line up with batch certifications; QA labs run melting point and NMR scans alongside infrared spectroscopy, all confirming the correct product leaves the gate. Powders and crystals move in controlled humidity and temperature, as water can change their flow and shelf life. Even tiny shifts in purity or particle size shape how reactions behave downstream, driving manufacturers to document each batch detail using digital tracking. These numbers and protocols deliver the repeatability demanded in chemical supply chains, research, and product development.
Everything built from 3,4,5-Trifluorophenylboronic acid traces back to environmental and regulatory concerns. Waste treatment systems neutralize boron-rich outflows, with regulations requiring hazard disposal of contaminated solvents. Its HS Code lets customs and receiving clerks know to isolate, store, and monitor shipments under chemical safety protocols. Laboratories train new chemists in safe handling from day one, using this kind of molecule as a case study for responsible chemical use and stewardship—a direct link between technical knowledge and workplace safety.
3,4,5-Trifluorophenylboronic acid stands as a testament to how raw material science drives both discovery and industry, shaping products from lab bench to finished goods. Whether ground into powder for a new coupling reaction or loaded as flakes into a pilot plant reactor, its combination of structure, density, safety reminders, and specification sheets reflects the reality of chemical work—each step measured, every risk considered, and all properties documented from molecule to shipping manifest.
