Products

170x115_tankerYou can rely on Honeywell to deliver a quality boron trifluoride (BF3) product. We take our safety responsibility very seriously – no other supplier can match the experience and support we provide throughout every phase of production and delivery, for every BF3 complex and grade we offer. All Honeywell BF3 is produced at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Claymont, Del.

Honeywell BF3 comes in several grades and complexes:

  • BFgas
  • BFacetonitrile complex
  • BF3 acetic acid complex
  • BFdiethyl ether complex
  • BFmethanol complex
  • BFphenol complex
  • BF3 ethyl acetate complex
  • BFtetrahydrofuran complex

BF3 is a non-flammable compressed gas packaged and shipped in cylinders under high pressure. It is one of the strongest Lewis acids, which are also known as electron pair acceptors. In gas form, it reacts with chemicals containing oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and other electron pair donors to form addition or coordination compounds. It is extensively used as an acidic catalyst for organic synthesis reactions.

BF3 Complexes

Complexed forms of BF3 are typically liquids or solids that can be easier to manage than the high-pressure gas form of BF3. It is best to use BF3 in a complexed form so that it can be released under preferred conditions. These complexes can provide unique catalytic effects or change the characteristics of  reaction products. Custom complexes can be made upon request.

Contact us to learn more about our product grades, custom complexes and technical service offerings.

BF3 is one of the most potent Lewis acids, and is widely used as a catalyst for organic synthesis reactions. It demonstrates greater resistance to hydrolysis when compared with other boron trihalides. Some of these applications include:

Polymerization

  • Olefins, diolefins, vinyl ethers/esters, unsaturated acids/esters, terpenes or derivatives
  • Heterocyclic unsaturated organics, such as indene and coumarone
  • Styrene or derivatives with isoprene, butadiene or 1, 3-pentadiene

Alkylation

  • Aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols with olefins or alcohols

Isomerization

  • Paraffins and unsaturated hydrocarbons

Synthesis

  • Acetals, ketals, indoles, alphamethoxymercurials, steroids and intermediates, hydroxy fatty acids

Reaction Promotion

  • Acetylenes with acids, addition of olefins with organic acids or esters

Reagent Use

  • Desulfurizing solvents, intermediates and cracked distillated petroleum, separating xylene isomers
  • Absorbing water of nitration
  • Cyclization of natural and synthetic elastomers
  • Disproportionation of isoparaffins

Inorganic and Organic Compound Formation

  • Fluorides, anhydrous ammonia, water, sulfuric acid and salts, phosphoric acid and salts
  • Hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide
  • Alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, amines, nitrites, carboxylic acids and esters, sulfonic acids and esters

Additional Uses

  • Nucleonics, brazing fluxes for metals and alloys, manufacturing lube oil additives
  • Production of high purity boron isotope (10 B), manufacturing boranes and fluoroborates
  • Preparation of triphenyl and tetraphenyl borates, P-type doping in semiconductor manufacturing
  • Cyclization of natural and synthetic elastomers, disproportionation of isoparaffins

Contact us to learn more about our product grades, custom complexes and technical service offerings.