Hexafluoro-2-propanol

Hexafluoroisopropanol, commonly abbreviated HFIP, is the organic compound with the formula (CF3)2CHOH. This fluoroalcohol finds use as solvent and synthetic intermediate. It appears as a colorless, volatile liquid that is characterized by a strong, pungent odor. As a solvent hexafluoro-2-propanol is polar and exhibits strong hydrogen bonding properties enabling it to dissolve substances that serve as hydrogen-bond acceptors, such as amides and ethers. Hexafluoro-2-propanol is transparent to UV light with high density, low viscosity and low refractive index. Hexafluoroisopropanol, commonly abbreviated HFIP, is the organic compound with the formula (CF3)2CHOH. This fluoroalcohol finds use as solvent and synthetic intermediate. It appears as a colorless, volatile liquid that is characterized by a strong, pungent odor. As a solvent hexafluoro-2-propanol is polar and exhibits strong hydrogen bonding properties enabling it to dissolve substances that serve as hydrogen-bond acceptors, such as amides and ethers. Hexafluoro-2-propanol is transparent to UV light with high density, low viscosity and low refractive index. Hexafluoro-propan-2-ol is prepared from hexafluoropropylene through hexafluoroacetone, which is then hydrogenated. Hexafluoro-propan-2-ol is a speciality solvent for some polar polymers and organic synthesis. It is especially effective for solubilizing a wide range of polymers, including those that are not soluble in the most common organic solvents, such as: polyamides, polyacrylonitriles, polyacetals, polyesters (e.g. polyglycolide), and polyketones. It has also found use in biochemistry to solubilize peptides and to monomerize β-sheet protein aggregates. Because of its acidity (pKa = 9.3), it can be used as acid in volatile buffers for ion pair HPLC - mass spectrometry of nucleic acids. It is both the precursor and the chief metabolite of the inhalation anesthetic sevoflurane. Hexafluoro-2-propanol is a volatile, corrosive liquid that can cause severe burns and respiratory problems.