Perfluoropropionic anhydride is a clear, colorless to light yellow liquid that is highly sensitive to moisture. It undergoes vigorous reactions when exposed to water. It is used in a GC-MS analysis of stereoisomer content of synthetic peptides. It is also utilized in a GC-MS detection method for synephrine in dietary supplements.
Pentafluoropropionic anhydride act as a derivatising agent of amines and alcohols. It is used in the in preparation of halogenated derivatives of phenolic acids, required for determination of some biologically important acids in cerebrospinal fluid, as derivatization reagent in detection of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline as endogenous amines from non-treated rat brain by GC-multiple ion detection and in simultaneous determination of the major metabolites of dopamine in rat striatum by gas-liquid chromatography.