Triflimide
(HNTf2) is a commercially available and highly
versatile super Brønsted acid. Owing to its strong acidity as
well as good compatibility with organic solvents, it has been widely
employed as an exceptional catalyst, promoter, or additive in a wide
range of organic reactions. On many occasions, triflimide has been
demonstrated to outperform triflic acid (TfOH). The uniquely outstanding
performance of triflimide also benefits from the low nucleophilicity
and noncoordinating property of its conjugate base (Tf2N–). Therefore, it has been employed as a precursor
toward a variety of cationic metal complexes or organic intermediates
with enhanced reactivity or catalytic activity. In this Review, we
describe these features and applications of triflimide in organic
synthesis, including its synthesis, physical properties, and role
as catalyst or promoter in organic reactions. At the end of this Review,
another closely related reagent, triflidic acid (HCTf3),
is also briefly introduced.