Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (also known as Triflic acid, TFMSA or TfOH) is an organic acid that is commonly used as a reagent in organic synthesis due to its strong Bronsted acidity, finding applications in catalysis, N-protection, dehydration, activation, and addition reactions.^, TFMSA is also used for global deprotection and cleavage in Boc SPPS.

Associated Protocols and Technical Articles
Cleavage and Deprotection Protocols for Boc SPPS

Literature references:
^[1] L. R. Subramanian, et al. (2001) Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis.
^[2] R. D. Howells & J. D. Mc Cown JD (1977) Chem. Rev., 77, 69.
^[3] J. Stewart, J. Young in “Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis”, Pierce Chemical Company, Rockford, 1984.

Recent applications of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid include:

• A dehydrating agent for the conversion of secondary alcohols to alkene, or the preparation of anhydrides from carboxylic acids.
• An acid catalyst in the synthesis of carbohydrates and glycosides.
• An activating agent for the activation of carboxylic acids and can be used for the synthesis of carboxylic acid derivatives such as esters, amides, and anhydrides.