2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline
A trifluorinated aniline intermediate supplied by Chelora Chemicals for agrochemical, pharmaceutical and liquid-crystal synthesis — exported from Indonesia in technical and high-purity grades, with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its place in the fluoroaniline family, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline is a trifluorinated derivative of aniline, carrying three fluorine atoms on three consecutive ring positions adjacent to the amino group. The heavily fluorinated ring draws electron density away from the amine by induction, which lowers the nucleophilicity of the nitrogen compared with aniline itself while still leaving it reactive enough for acylation, sulfonylation and diazotization under suitably forcing conditions. This combination of strong electron-withdrawal and a reactive primary amine is exactly why heavily fluorinated anilines are prized building blocks in pharmaceutical and liquid-crystal chemistry, where the fluorine substitution pattern tunes a target molecule's electronic properties, metabolic stability or lipophilicity.
At room temperature it sits right at its melting point and is typically handled and supplied as a clear, colorless to light amber liquid. It is miscible with common organic solvents such as ethanol, acetone and toluene, and only sparingly soluble in water.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
As with other polyfluorinated anilines, 2,3,4-trifluoroaniline is consumed almost entirely as an intermediate. Its amino group is carried forward into amides, sulfonamides, ureas or diazonium derivatives to build the active structure of a downstream molecule. Pharmaceutical process chemists specify it most often for routes to fluoroquinolone-type and other fluorinated active pharmaceutical ingredients, where the exact fluorine substitution pattern on the ring is part of the target structure and cannot be substituted with a different trifluoroaniline isomer.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline in technical grade (≈97% assay) for standard industrial synthesis, and high-purity grade (99%+) for applications sensitive to isomer carryover or trace metal content. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis so your incoming QC team can verify the parameters you ordered against.
How 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Commercial-scale 2,3,4-trifluoroaniline is built up from a chlorinated benzene precursor through sequential halogen-exchange (Halex) fluorination and nitro-group reduction. A trichloronitrobenzene matching the target substitution pattern is treated with a fluoride source — typically potassium fluoride — under elevated temperature in a polar aprotic solvent, exchanging the ring chlorines for fluorines in a series of controlled substitutions to give the corresponding trifluoronitrobenzene.
The trifluoronitrobenzene intermediate is then reduced to the amine by catalytic hydrogenation (Pd/C or Raney nickel under hydrogen). Because three halogen-exchange steps are involved rather than one, reaction control at each stage is important: incomplete exchange leaves di- and mono-fluoro-chloro impurities in the product, while overly aggressive hydrogenation conditions can strip a ring fluorine through hydrodehalogenation.
After reduction, the crude amine is washed and vacuum-distilled to remove unreacted starting material, partially fluorinated by-products and residual catalyst metals before drying and packing. This distillation cut is where technical grade and high-purity grade material part ways — the high-purity stream is cut and re-processed more tightly to hold isomer and metal carryover to a lower ceiling.
Why isomer purity is set upstream
With three fluorines to place correctly, the nitration and chlorination sequence used to build the starting trichlorobenzene fixes the eventual substitution pattern long before the amine is ever formed. This is why the various trifluoroaniline isomers are sourced from distinct manufacturing streams rather than separated from one shared batch, and why a certificate of analysis for this product reports isomer purity as a core specification, not an optional extra.
Industries and processes that use it
2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline is consumed almost entirely as a synthesis intermediate. The fields below account for most of the global demand we see through our export desk.
Pharmaceuticals & Fine Chemicals
A building block for fluorinated active pharmaceutical ingredients, including fluoroquinolone-type antibacterial scaffolds and other APIs where the trifluoro substitution pattern is part of the target structure.
Crop Protection
Used in the synthesis of fluorinated herbicide and fungicide actives, typically carried forward through amide, sulfonamide or urea formation.
Liquid Crystal Intermediates
Multiply fluorinated anilines of this type are valued building blocks for liquid-crystal materials, where the fluorine pattern tunes the dielectric and optical properties of the final compound.
Specialty & Fluorinated Aromatics
A starting material for further polyfluorinated aromatic compounds used across process and research chemistry.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The primary amine remains the reactive handle, though the three ring fluorines significantly reduce its nucleophilicity relative to aniline. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline is converted into a finished intermediate downstream.
Acylation
Reaction with an acid chloride or anhydride, often under more forcing conditions than an unsubstituted aniline requires, converts the amine to an amide — the most common step in building pharmaceutical and agrochemical active-ingredient scaffolds from this intermediate.
Sulfonylation
Reaction with a sulfonyl chloride gives a sulfonamide. This linkage is common in fluoroquinolone-type pharmaceutical synthesis routes that use a polyfluorinated aniline as the starting aromatic core.
Diazotization & Sandmeyer Chemistry
Reaction of the amino group with nitrous acid (generated in situ, held below 5 °C) converts the amine into a diazonium salt, which can be carried into Sandmeyer-type substitution to introduce other functional groups onto the ring in place of the amino group, or coupled to build azo chromophores.
Cyclization Reactions
In fluoroquinolone-type synthesis, the amine and its ortho ring positions participate in a cyclization sequence that builds the bicyclic quinolone core directly from the trifluorinated aniline starting material.
2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline against other fluorinated and halogenated anilines we supply
Buyers sourcing 2,3,4-trifluoroaniline often need a related fluorinated or chlorinated aniline building block for a neighbouring step in the same process. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline | 3862-73-5 | Trifluorinated primary arylamine | The product on this page — our most regularly stocked trifluoroaniline. |
| 2,6-Difluoroaniline | 5509-65-9 | Difluorinated primary arylamine | Available to order — see its product page for a full spec. |
| 4-Fluoro-N-Isopropylaniline | 70441-63-3 | Mono-fluorinated secondary arylamine | N-isopropyl substituted; a herbicide-intermediate grade — see its product page. |
| 2,4-Dichloroaniline | 554-00-7 | Dichlorinated primary arylamine | Our chlorinated analogue in the same intermediate class — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Combustible liquid.
Harmful if swallowed.
Causes skin irritation.
Causes serious eye damage.
May cause respiratory irritation.
May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
Toxic to aquatic life, with long-lasting effects.
Danger — GHS05 corrosive, GHS07 exclamation-mark and GHS09 environmental pictograms apply.
Handle with chemical-resistant gloves, eye/face protection and adequate ventilation; avoid release to drains and waterways given its aquatic toxicity profile. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, in tightly closed original packaging, segregated from strong oxidizing and acidic materials. As the melting point sits close to typical ambient temperature, containers may partially solidify in cool storage — warm gently and mix before sampling. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay and moisture before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by GC), isomer purity, water content and color, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline used for?+
02What is the CAS number of 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline?+
03What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
04Is 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline hazardous?+
05Is 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline a liquid or a solid?+
06What packing options are available?+
07How long does delivery take?+
08Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
09Do you supply other fluorinated anilines?+
10How is 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline manufactured?+
Need 2,3,4-Trifluoroaniline on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.