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Boron Trifluoride (BF3) Applications
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Because of its potency as a Lewis acid and its greater resistance to
hydrolysis compared to other boron trihalides, Boron Trifluoride is widely used
as a catalyst for organic synthesis reactions such as:
Polymerization
 | Olefins or diolefins |
| Vinyl ethers or esters |
| Heterocyclic unsaturated organics e.g., indene, coumarone, etc. |
| Unsaturated acids or esters |
| Terpenes or derivatives |
| Styrene or derivatives with isoprene, butadiene, 1, 3-pentadiene, etc. |
Alkylation
| Aromatic hydrocarbons |
| Phenols with olefins |
| Phenols with alcohols |
Isomerization
| Paraffins |
| Unsaturated hydrocarbons |
Synthesis
| Acetals and ketals |
| Indoles |
| Alpha – methoxymercurials |
| Steroids and intermediates |
| Hydroxy fatty acids |
Promoting Reactions of
| Acetylenes with acids |
| Addition of olefins with organic acids or esters |
Boron Trifluoride also aids in
| Cyclization of natural and synthetic elastomers |
| Disproportionation of isoparaffins |
It can be used as a reagent for
| Desulfurizing solvents and intermediates |
| Desulfurizing cracked petroleum distillated |
| Separating xylene isomers |
| Absorbing water of nitration |
Other uses of BF3 include
| Nucleonics |
| Brazing fluxes for metals and alloys |
| Manufacture of lube oil additives |
| Production of high purity boron isotope (10 B) |
| Source of boron for manufacture of boranes and fluoroborates |
| Preparation of triphenyl and tetraphenyl borates |
| P-type doping in semiconductor manufacture |
Boron Trifluoride has the ability to form coordination compounds with
| Inorganic chemicals, e.g., |
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| | Fluorides |
| | Anhydrous ammonia |
| | Water |
| | Sulfuric acid and its salts |
| | Phosphoric acid and its salts |
| | Hydrogen sulfide |
| | Sulfur dioxide |
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| Organic chemicals, e.g., |
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| | Alcohols |
| | Ethers |
| | Aldehydes |
| | Ketones |
| | Amines |
| | Nitrites |
| | Carboxylic acids and esters |
| | Sulfonic acids and esters |
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