1,3,5-Tris(trifluoromethyl)benzene

1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)benzene was used as a starting material in the synthesis of bis(2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)chloropnictines.
It may be used as a starting material in the synthesis of 2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid by reacting with n-butyllithium and carbon dioxide and in the synthesis of lithio derivative, via direct metalation with n-butyllithium.

1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)benzene is a tri-substituted benzene. It has been synthesized by reacting benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid with SF₄. Reports suggest that 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)benzene is a nonanesthetics and shows convulsant properties. Its vapor absorption spectra and corresponding solution spectra has been investigated. Its reaction with methyl lithium has been analyzed using semiempirical reaction modelling.

The principal structural parameters rh1(∠h1) determined by GED are (bond lengths in Angstroms and bond angles in degrees with 3σ in parentheses): r(C C)=1.392(4), r(CC)=1.512(4), r(CF)av=1.346(2), ∠C–C(CF3)– C=120.9(2), ∠C–C(H)–C=119.1(2), ∠(C–C–F)av=111.6(2). The structure of the carbon ring deviates from a regular hexagon due to the σ-electronegative effect of the CF3 groups. The geometric parameters of the trifluoromethyl groups deviate considerably from regular tetrahedron arrangement[1].

[1] Inna N. Kolesnikova . “Molecular structure and conformation of 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)-benzene as studied by gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations.” Journal of Molecular Structure 1074 (2014): Pages 196-200.