THF-A Versatile Organic Synthesis Raw Material and Solvent

THF is an important organic synthesis raw material and a solvent with excellent performance, especially suitable for dissolving PVC, polyvinylidene chloride, and butylamine. It is widely used as a solvent for surface coatings, anti-corrosion coatings, daily printing inks, magnetic tapes, and thin film coatings, and as a reaction solvent. When used in aluminum electroplating, the thickness of the aluminum layer can be arbitrarily controlled and bright.

THF can self condense (via cation initiated ring opening and re polymerization) to form polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), also known as tetrahydrofuran homoether. PTMEG and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) are used to make special rubber with wear resistance, oil resistance, good low-temperature performance, and high strength; Made of block polyether polyester elastic material with dimethyl terephthalate and 14-butanediol. PTMEG with a relative molecular weight of 2000 and para methylene bis (4-phenyl) diisocyanate (MDI) are used as raw materials for polyurethane elastic fibers (spandex fibers), special rubber, and some special purpose coatings. In organic synthesis, it is used to produce tetrahydrothiophene, 1.4-dichloroethane, 2.3-dichlorotetrahydrofuran, pentolactone, butyrolactone, and pyrrolidone.

In the pharmaceutical industry, THF is used to synthesize Kebiqing, Rifamycin, progesterone, and some hormone drugs. THF is treated with hydrogen sulfide to generate tetrahydrothiophenol, which can be used as a odorant (recognition additive) in fuel gas. THF can also be used as a surface treatment agent for synthetic leather.