Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate Property

Boiling point:

94-99 °C(lit.)

Density 

1.45 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)

refractive index 

n20/D 1.326(lit.)

Flash point:

101 °F

storage temp. 

2-8°C

solubility 

Chloroform (Sparingly), Ethyl Acetate (Slightly)

form 

Liquid

Specific Gravity

1.450

color 

Clear colorless to yellow

Sensitive 

Air Sensitive

BRN 

774772

Stability:

Hygroscopic, Moisture Sensitive, Volatile

InChI

InChI=1S/C2H3F3O3S/c1-8-9(6,7)2(3,4)5/h1H3

InChIKey

OIRDBPQYVWXNSJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N

SMILES

C(F)(F)(F)S(OC)(=O)=O

CAS DataBase Reference

333-27-7(CAS DataBase Reference)

EPA Substance Registry System

Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (333-27-7)

Safety

Hazard Codes 

C,T

Risk Statements 

10-34-20/21/22

Safety Statements 

26-36/37/39-45-16

RIDADR 

UN 2920 8/PG 2

WGK Germany 

3

F 

10

Hazard Note 

Highly Toxic/Corrosive

TSCA 

T

HazardClass 

3.2

PackingGroup 

III

HS Code 

29049020

Hazard and Precautionary Statements (GHS)

Symbol(GHS)

Signal word

Danger

Hazard statements

H226Flammable liquid and vapour

H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage

H330Fatal if inhaled

Precautionary statements

P210Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. — No smoking.

P233Keep container tightly closed.

P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.

P303+P361+P353IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove/Take off Immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse SKIN with water/shower.

P305+P351+P338IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continuerinsing.

Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate Chemical Properties,Usage,Production

Chemical Properties

clear colourless to yellow liquid

Uses

Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate is used as a powerful methylating reagent in chemistry. Further, it is used in the conversion of amines to methyl ammonium triflates. In addition, it is also used in Suzuki reaction.

Application

Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, a methylating agent, is commonly used for the pre-methylation of polysaccharides under mild basic conditions.
In the determination of polysulfides, zerovalent sulfur in sulfide-rich water wells, and polysulfide species in electrolyte of a lithium–sulfur battery using chromatography-based techniques.
In reactions with potassium enolates.
For the conversion of amines to methyl ammonium triflates.
Additionally, methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate has been utilized in the production of 2-Benzyloxy-1-methylpyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate.

General Description

Methyl trifluoromethane sulfonate is a brown liquid. Insoluble in water. (NTP, 1992) This material is a very reactive methylating agent, also known as methyl triflate.

Air & Water Reactions

Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate is sensitive to heat. . Esters react with acids to liberate heat along with alcohols and acids. Strong oxidizing acids may cause a vigorous reaction that is sufficiently exothermic to ignite the reaction products. Heat is also generated by the interaction of esters with caustic solutions. Flammable hydrogen is generated by mixing esters with alkali metals and hydrides.

Health Hazard

ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: When heated to decomposition Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate emits toxic fumes.

Fire Hazard

Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate is combustible.

Toxicology

Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate is extremely hazardous. All possible precautions should be taken to avoid inhalation or absorption through the skin. This material is extremely destructive to the tissue of the mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract, eyes, and skin. Inhalation may be fatal as a result of spasm, inflammation, and edema of the larynx and bronchi, chemical pneumonitis, and pulmonary edema. Use in a fume hood. Although there has yet to be a reported human fatality, several cases were reported for methyl fluorosulfonate (LC50 (rat, 1 h) = 5 ppm), and methyl triflate is expected to have similar toxicity based on available evidence.

Synthesis

Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate is commercially available, however it may also be prepared in the laboratory by treating dimethyl sulfate with triflic acid.
CF3SO2OH + (CH3O)2SO2  →  CF3SO2OCH3 + CH3OSO2OH

Purification Methods

Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (methyl triflate) [333-27-7] M 164.1, b 97 -97.5o/736mm, 9 9o/~760mm, 100-102o/~760mm, d 4 1.496, n D 1.3238. It is a strong methylating agent but is corrosive and POISONOUS. Fractionate it carefully and collecting the middle fraction (use an efficient fume cupboard) and keep away from moisture. It is a POWERFUL ALKYLATING AGENT and a strong IRRITANT. [IR: Gramstad & Haszeldine J Chem Soc 173 1956 , J Chem Soc 4069 1957 .] Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (triflic acid) [1493-13-6] M 151.1, boils higher (b 162o/atm), has a pKa of 3.10, and is TOXIC and hygroscopic. [Hansen J Org Chem 30 4322 1965, Kurz & El-Nasr J Am Chem Soc 104 5823 1982, Beilstein 3 IV 34.]