Benzotrifluoride and Derivatives: Useful Solvents for Organic Synthesis and Fluorous Synthesis James J. Maul 1 · Philip J. Ostrowski 2 · Gregg A. Ublacker 3 · Bruno Linclau 4 · Dennis P.Curran 4 1 Occidental Chemical Corporation, Technology Center, Grand Island, NY 14072, USA. E-mail:
[email protected]. 2 Occidental Chemical Corporation, Niagara Falls, NY 14303, USA. E-mail:
[email protected]. 3 Occidental Chemical Corporation, Dallas, TX 75244, USA. E-mail:
[email protected]. 4 Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA. E-mail:
[email protected] Benzotrifluoride (BTF, trifluoromethylbenzene, a,a,a-trifluorotoluene, C6H5CF3) and related compounds are introduced as new solvents for traditional organic synthesis and for fluorous synthesis. BTF is more environmentally friendly than many other organic solvents and is available in large quantities.BTF is relatively inert and is suitable for use as a solvent for a wide range of chemistry including ionic, transition-metal catalyzed and thermal reactions. It is especially useful for radical reactions, where it may replace benzene as the current solvent of choice for many common transformations. BTF and related solvents are also crucial compo- nents of fluorous synthesis since they can dissolve both standard organic molecules and highly fluorinated molecules. This chapter provides an overview of the reactivity and toxico- logical properties of BTF and analogs and then summarizes their recent uses as reaction solvents in both traditional organic and new fluorous synthesis. Keywords. Benzotrifluoride, Reaction solvent, Organic synthesis, Fluorous synthesis, Green chemistry. 1 Introduction . 80 2 General Introduction to Benzotrifluoride . 81 2.1 Industrial Preparation of BTF . 81 2.2 Benzotrifluoride Analogs .