The fluoride ion is important to synthetic chemistry, often because it can be used to cleave silyl ethers (the silicon analogue of a carbon ether). Fluoride is notorious for holding onto water (like any tiny ion - lithium is about as bad), so even an "anhydrous" solution of TBAF in (say) THF will often contain ca 5% water. The less water you have, the more "naked" fluoride anion you have, which is much, much more reactive than aquated fluoride.
- Log in to post comments
More like this
Stick that TBDMS on Monday and helplessly flailing around, looking for a way to get your alcohol back? Have a little TBAF:
TBAF is one of the most common sources of fluoride ion for silyl deprotection. You usually get a 1M solution in THF with a little water, too. It can be a pain to get rid of…
"Fluoridation is the single most important commitment a community can make to the oral health of its children and to future generations." -C. Everett Koop
Most weekends, I take on a lighter topic, as a way of taking a break from the deep physics, astronomy, and science we share during the week.…
I love old bottles of chemicals, and I've spent many a diverting hour perusing the shelves of old university faculty members' labs. Bottles used to come in pounds (or giant "ONE MOLE" sizes). Faded typewritten text, "For medical, pharmaceutical compounding, or research use" labels, yellowed paper…
Chalk one up for the forces of anti-science, quackery, and pseudoscience. The citizens of Portland, Oregon just handed them a huge victory the other day when they once again rejected water fluoridation in a referendum:
Fluoride supporters, it appeared, had everything going for them.
Five Portland…
very interesting...great blog, too bad i only discovered it recently.