Product Overview
Scandium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate, commonly referred to as scandium triflate or Sc(OTf)₃, is a highly versatile Lewis acid catalyst widely used in modern organic synthesis. It is a white, hygroscopic crystalline powder with the molecular formula Sc(CF₃SO₃)₃ and a molecular weight of 492.16 g/mol. The compound features a scandium(III) center coordinated with three trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) ligands, creating a strong Lewis acid with unique properties.
Scandium triflate has emerged as a privileged catalyst in green chemistry due to its stability in aqueous environments and recoverability, addressing many limitations of traditional Lewis acids such as aluminum chloride, boron trifluoride, and titanium tetrachloride.
Key Features & Advantages
- Water-stable Lewis acid: Unlike traditional moisture-sensitive Lewis acids, Sc(OTf)₃ is stable in water and can be used in aqueous media, enabling environmentally friendly reaction conditions
- High catalytic activity: Effective at very low catalyst loadings (typically 1-10 mol%, sometimes as low as 0.1 mol%)
- Excellent recoverability: Can be recovered from reaction mixtures and reused multiple times without significant loss of catalytic activity
- Broad substrate scope: Catalyzes a wide range of organic transformations with high chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity
- Mild reaction conditions: Often proceeds at room temperature or moderate heating, reducing energy consumption
- Low toxicity: Compared to many traditional Lewis acids, scandium triflate has relatively low toxicity
- Multiple purity grades: Available from 98% technical grade to 99.995% trace metals grade for electronic and semiconductor applications
Major Applications
Sc(OTf)₃ is a workhorse catalyst in both academic and industrial settings:
- 1.Diels-Alder & cycloaddition reactions: Endo-selective cycloadditions, including asymmetric variants with chiral ligands, in aqueous media
- 2.Friedel-Crafts acylations and alkylations: Aromatic substitution reactions with high para-selectivity, avoiding the need for stoichiometric Lewis acids
- 3.Mukaiyama aldol reactions: Highly stereoselective carbon-carbon bond formation with silyl enol ethers
- 4.Glycosylation reactions: Activation of glycosyl donors for the synthesis of oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates
- 5.Polymerization reactions: Stereocontrolled polymerization of acrylates and other vinyl monomers
- 6.Allylation and propargylation reactions: Addition of allyl and propargyl groups to carbonyl compounds and imines
- 7.Michael additions and conjugate reactions: 1,4-addition of various nucleophiles to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds
- 8.Ring-opening polymerization: Catalysis of lactide and other cyclic monomer polymerizations
- 9.Nucleophilic substitution reactions: Activation of alcohols and other leaving groups
- 10.Multicomponent reactions: Catalysis of Ugi, Strecker, and other MCRs for efficient compound library synthesis
Quality & Specifications
Our scandium triflate is available in multiple purity grades to suit diverse application needs:
- 98% Technical grade - for bulk industrial applications
- 99% Reagent grade - for general organic synthesis
- 99.9% High purity grade - for fine chemical synthesis
- 99.99% Ultra-high purity grade - for electronic and advanced materials
- 99.995% Trace metals grade - for semiconductor and specialty applications
Each batch is rigorously tested for purity, trace metal content, moisture, and other critical parameters, with a comprehensive Certificate of Analysis (COA) provided.
Packaging & Storage
- Packaging options: 1g, 5g, 25g, 100g, 500g, 1kg bottles; custom packaging available
- Storage conditions: Store in tightly sealed containers in a cool, dry place, protected from moisture
- Handling precautions: Hygroscopic - handle under inert atmosphere for best results
- Shelf life: 24 months under proper storage conditions
- Shipping: Can be shipped as non-hazardous chemical under standard transport conditions
