Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, also known as triflic acid, TFMS, TFSA, HOTf or TfOH, is a sulfonic acid

Sulfonic acid

Sulfonic acid usually refers to a member of the class of organosulfur compounds with the general formula RS2–OH, where R is an alkyl or aryl. The formal part of acid, HS2–OH, are formally derivatives of the "parent" inorganic compound with the formula HSO2.-Preparation:Sulfonic acid is...

 with the chemical formula CF₃SO₃H. It is one of the strongest acids. Triflic acid is mainly used in research as a catalyst for esterification.
Triflic acid is a hygroscopic, colorless liquid at room temperature. It is soluble in polar

Polar bond

In chemistry, a polar bond is a type of covalent bond between two atoms or more in which electrons are shared unequally. Because of this, one end of the molecule has a slight, relative negative charge and the other a slight, relative positive charge...

 solvent

Solvent

A solvent is a liquid, solid, or gas that dissolves another solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution that is soluble in a certain volume of solvent at a specified temperature...

s such as DMF

Dimethylformamide

Dimethylformamide is an organic compound with the formula 2NCH. Commonly abbreviated as DMF , this colourless liquid is miscible with water and the majority of organic liquids. DMF is a common solvent for chemical reactions...

, DMSO

Dimethyl sulfoxide

Dimethyl sulfoxide is an organosulfur compound with the formula 2SO. This colorless liquid is an important polar aprotic solvent that dissolves both polar and nonpolar compounds and is miscible in a wide range of organic solvents as well as water...

, acetonitrile

Acetonitrile

Acetonitrile is the chemical compound with formula . This colourless liquid is the simplest organic nitrile. It is produced mainly as a byproduct of acrylonitrile manufacture...

, and dimethyl sulfone.