Trifluoroethanol, due to its unique chemistry has pharmaceutical, chemical and engineering applications. It is a source of trifluoromethyl group for various chemical reactions. It is used as a solvent for nylon and it can be used as a working fluid in Rankine cycle engines because of its thermal stability.
Trifluoroethanol has more of an acid character than ethanol. Due to this it has a stronger tendency to form hydrogen bonds and forms stable complexes with solvents such as THF and pyridine. It can be oxidized to trifluoroacetaldehyde or trifluoroacetic acid.
