CF3COCH3

CF3COCH3, also known as trifluoroacetone or 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C3H3F3O. It is a colorless liquid at room temperature and has a distinct odor. Structurally, it is a ketone where one methyl group of acetone is replaced by a trifluoromethyl group. The presence of the highly electronegative fluorine atoms significantly influences the chemical properties of the molecule, making the carbonyl carbon more electrophilic compared to acetone.

Trifluoroacetone is soluble in many organic solvents and also exhibits some solubility in water. It can participate in typical ketone reactions, such as nucleophilic addition, but the trifluoromethyl group often imparts unique reactivity or stability to the resulting products. For instance, it can be used as a building block in the synthesis of various fluorinated organic compounds, which find applications in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials science due to their altered biological activity and physical properties.

In terms of its preparation, trifluoroacetone can be synthesized through several routes, often involving the manipulation of fluorinated precursors. Due to its specific chemical characteristics, it is primarily employed in specialized chemical synthesis rather than as a common solvent or bulk chemical. Information regarding its toxicity and handling precautions should be consulted from safety data sheets.